Losartan to Improve Outcomes After Multi-ligament Knee Injury
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Summary
Multi-ligament knee injuries (MLKIs) can occur during military training, sports injuries, or traumatic events such as motor vehicle accidents and can be devastating events. These complex injuries involving disruption of 2 or more ligaments often coincide with injuries to arteries, nerves, tendons, menisci, and/or fractures and can be devastating events. MLKIs often require complex treatments nearly 2 in 5 patients suffer complications after surgery. Loss of knee range of motion is the most common complication and is associated with military separation. There are also long-term effects of motion loss, as the need for motion-restoring surgery after MLKI is associated with an increased risk of osteoarthritis within 5 years of surgery. A person's ability to perform both activities of daily living and higher demand physical activities is often impaired both in the short and long term. In fact, only 1 in 3 people return to high-level sport after MLKI. The purpose of this translational randomized clinical trial is to determine if a 30-day course of oral Losartan improves a person's ability to return to work or sport, range of motion and strength, and reduce knee inflammation in the first year after surgical treatment of an MLKI.
Description
Whether the result of military training, a sports injury, or trauma, multi-ligament knee injuries (MLKIs) can be devastating events. MLKI treatment is complex and 38% of all patients report postoperative complications. Loss of knee range of motion (ROM) is the most common complication and is significantly associated with military separation. There are long-term effects of ROM loss, as the need for motion-restoring surgery after MLKI was a significant predictor of physician-diagnosed osteoarthritis within 5 years of surgery. An individual's ability to perform both activities of daily living and…