Table 3 F, female; IKDC, International Knee Documentation Committee; LM, lateral meniscus; M, male; MCL, medial collateral ligament; MM, medial meniscus; MRI, magnetic resonance imaging; PCL, posterior cruciate ligament; PKT, physio kinesitherapy. * Seven patients who underwent the Khalifa treatment showed a continuous unsuspected ACL on MRI at follow-up. ** Data referred to the 15 patients of the Khalifa treatment group
From: Spontaneous healing of a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament: a case series and literature review
First Author (Year) | Type of study | No. Of Patients (Mean Age) Sex | Type of Lesion | Associated Lesions | Activity Level | Follow-up months (range) | Rehabilitation type (duration months) | Failure rate (%) | KT -1000, mm | IKDC | Lysholm score | Healing definition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ihara [28] (1994) | Prospective observational | 25 + 7 PCL (23) 20 M / 12 F | / | 24 LM 9 MM (6 LM + 1 MM for PCL lesions) | / | 3 | Kyuro knee brace (3) + Kinetec (0,5) + Dynamic joint control training (3) + Muscle strengthening exerces (3)+ No bearing (1) then partial bearing (0,5) | 0 (0%) | / | / | / | Arthroscopy |
Kurosaka [15] (1998) | Case Series | 2 (18,5) 2 M / 0 F | (1) 1/3 proximal (0) midsubstance (1) 1/3 distal | 1 MCL 1 MCL + MM | Competitive college sport participation | 30 (24 to 36) | Double hinged brace. Unspecific rehabilitation protocol. (3-5). | 0 (0%) | 0,5 (range, 0-1) | / | / | Subjective Knee Function + Physical Examination + Arthroscopy |
Malanga [16] (2001) | Case Report | 1 (45) F | 1/3 proximal | MCL | Dance instructor | 19 | No brace. No rehabilitation | 0 (0%) | / | / | / | Physical Examination + Arthroscopy + RMI |
Fujimoto [12] (2002) | Case Series | 31 (33) 10 M / 21 F | / | 0 meniscal lesions. No mention about other ligament. | Low athletic demand and sedentary occupation | 16,1 (6 to 36) | Soft brace with 20-deg flexion block was applied for 3 months after the injury. Full weight-bearing withoutthe use of crutches was generally achieved within 4 weeks after the trauma. Jogging was started 5 months after surgery. (5) | 8/31 (26%) | 4 | / | / | Subjective Knee Function + Physical Examination + MRI |
Costa-Paz [11] (2012) | Case Series | 14 (31) 12 M / 2 F | (8) 1/3 proximal; (6) mid-substance; (0) 1/3 distal | 3 MM1 LL5 MCL | Recreational sport participation | 25 (25 to 36) | No brace. Unspecific rehabilitationprotocol ( / ) | 2 had a reruptures (14%)1 had a meniscectomy (7%) | 1,95 (Range 1-3,5) | 10 Normal 4 Near normal | 97 (range 90–100) | Subjective Knee Function + Physical Examination + MRI |
Ofner [17] (2014) | Randomized Controlled Trial | 30 (29,5) 14 M / 16 F | / | / | Recreational sport participation | • 1 group: Manual Khalifa Therapy + unspecific rehabilitation protocol (1,5) • 1 group: unspecific rehabilitation protocol (1,5) | 23/30 failures (76%) * | < 2 (Max 5mm) ** | 89,27 (SD 10,5) ** | 89,27 (SD 10,5) ** | / | Subjective Knee Function + Physical Examination + MRI |
Jacobi [7](2016) | Jacobi [7](2016) | Jacobi [7](2016) | / | 0 ligament lesion No data about meniscal lesions | / | 24 | • 1 group: ACL-jack brace with range of motion 0-100° (4) then FKT •. 1 group: No brace + PKT (2-4) | • 18/84 (21%) 13 failures + 5 reruptures • 6/20 (30%) failure | ••••1,2 (± 2) 4,8 (± 2,5) | ••••90 (± 8,7) 86.4 (± 11) | ••••93.3 (± 8.3) 92.7 (± 7.4) | Subjective Knee Function + Physical Examination + MRI |
Razi [10] (2021) | Case Series | 15 (32) 8 M / 7 F | (15) 1/3 proximal (0) midsubstance (0) 1/3 distal | 15 MCL (100%)2 Meniscus (13%) | Recreational sport participation | 12 | Brace for pain control + PKT ( / ) | 0 (0%) | / | / | / | Physical Examination + MRI |