USE OF A MODIFIED QUENGEL HINGE TO PREVENT POSTERIOR DISPLACEMENT OF THE TIBIA DURING TREATMENT OF PCL INJURY

During treatment of posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) injuries, poster ior displacement of the tibia may occur inside the cast due to the eff ect of gravity on the lower leg. To prevent this problem the authors a ttempted to apply the original Quengel cast, first described by Mommse n in 1922 and perfected by Jordan, to correct the flexion contracture of the knee in hemophiliacs. However, the authors found that the cast was not effective in preventing the posterior displacement of the tibi a during management of PCL injuries. They modified the design of the o riginal Quengel hinge to obtain a more effective anterior traction on the tibia parallel to the knee joint line. Of the 32 patients who used the modified Quengel brace, 15 who could be followed had less than a 3 mm difference between the injured and uninjured knee 3 months postop eratively.