Differences in postoperative knee joint function and prognostic quality of life in patients undergoing posterior cruciate ligament reconstruction at different surgical timing under enhanced recovery after surgery

To explore the differences in postoperative knee joint function and prognostic quality of life in patients undergoing posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) reconstruction at different timing of surgery under the enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocol. A total of 266 cases of PCL injury admitted to our hospital between March 2019 and October 2022 were included in this retrospective study and divided them into a short-term group (147 cases with PCL reconstruction completed within 3 weeks after injury) and a long-term group (119 cases with PCL reconstruction performed 3 weeks after injury) according to the timing of surgery after injury. All patients received ERAS care during treatment. The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, and incision length of both cohorts were counted to evaluate the clinical efficacy. Perioperative patients were assessed by the Visual Analogue Scale for pain severity. The pre- and post-operative knee function and knee joint range of motion were assessed by the International Knee Documentation Committee and Lysholm Knee Scoring Scale. Furthermore, the complication rate was counted and the quality of life was evaluated by the Short-Form 36 Item Health Survey. Patients were also assessed for their psychological states using the Self-rating Anxiety/Depression Scale and their satisfaction with care. The 2 groups showed similar operation time, intraoperative blood loss, incision length, overall response rate, and Visual Analogue Scale (P > .05), but the short-term group had higher knee range of motion and scores of International Knee Documentation Committee and Lysholm Scale than the long-term group (P < .05). A similar complication rate was also determined in the 2 groups (P > .05), but the Short-Form 36 Item Health Survey scores were significantly higher in the short-term group (P < .05). Self-rating Anxiety Scale and Self-rating Depression Scale in both groups decreased after treatment (P < .05), and no statistical difference was determined in nursing satisfaction (P = 198). PCL reconstruction within 3 weeks after PCL injury is more conducive to the recovery of patients’ knee joint function, and the ERAS protocol can more effectively improve the therapeutic effect of patients.