Published online Oct 6, 2019. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v7.i19.3082
Peer-review started: June 3, 2019
First decision: August 1, 2019
Revised: August 11, 2019
Accepted: August 27, 2019
Article in press: August 27, 2019
Published online: October 6, 2019
Processing time: 124 Days and 19.6 Hours
Hypoplasia of bilateral cruciate ligaments is a rare congenital malformation. The diagnosis of such diseases and indications for the various treatment options require further analysis and discussion.
The patient is a 26-year-old Chinese woman who has been suffering from knee pain since the age of 8 years, 2-3 episodes a year. Three years ago, due to the practice of advanced yoga poses, the frequency of left knee pain increased, requiring prompt medical treatment. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated an absence of both anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments of both knees with abnormal posterior tilting of the tibial plateau. Bilateral subluxation of the knee joint was also found, therefore tibial osteotomy was performed. The patient reported at the 24 mo follow-up that the frequency of pain and instability had been reduced and function restored.
Osteotomy may be an effective method to treat patients with congenital cruciate ligament deficiency with posterior tibial plateau tilting. The diagnosis of congenital cruciate ligament deficiency shall be based on the combination of patient’s medical history, clinical manifestations, and findings from imaging to avoid possible misdiagnosis. Based on the symptoms, frequency of attacks, and intent of the individual, appropriate treatment options shall be identified.
Core tip: While some articles reported the rare disease of congenital absence of cruciate ligaments, to our knowledge none of them systematiclly reports the published cases and summarizes the characteristics of this kind of disease. . We conducted a literature review that focus on the symptoms and their appear age of the disease. In order to find out the best treatment programs for congenital absence of cruciate ligaments, we also paid great attention to the treatment method of each case. In addition, we concluded a diagnostic process that will help clinicians to decrease the chance of misdiagnosis.