Differences in the several types of posterior dislocation and their outcome are significant.
The length of time before full weight-bearing was resumed did not significantly affect the results in this series. On the contrary, both the results and the time when weight-bearing was permitted appeared to depend upon the type of injury.
Avascular necrosis and traumatic arthritis were the chief complications encountered in those cases with unsatisfactory results.
Associated injuries did not affect results in the series as a whole.
Of the cases with injury to the peroneal nerve, a scant majority recovered spontaneously.
Good management depends upon prompt recognition of time dislocation. Except in cases where the patient's condition is critical, or where another local injury must take precedence, treatment of the dislocation should be prompt and based upon a careful evaluation of the type disloation and the treatment indication.