Static rotational and sagittal knee laxity measurements after reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament

• Published in: Knee surgery, sports traumatology, arthroscopy : official journal of the ESSKA sports traumatology, arthroscopy : official journal of the ESSKA, 2012-05, Vol.20 (5), p.844-850
• Main Authors: Lorbach, O., Kieb, M., Brogard, P., Maas, S., Pape, D., Seil, R.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Anterior Cruciate Ligament - surgery; Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries; Arthroscopy; Bone surgery; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Force; Health; Humans; Joint and ligament injuries; Joint Instability - diagnosis; Joint Instability - surgery; Knee; Knee Injuries - surgery; Knees; Ligaments; Male; Measurement; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Middle Aged; Objectives; Orthopedics; Patients; Postoperative Complications; Range of Motion, Articular; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures; Rotation; scoring; Surgery; Treatment Outcome; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0942-2056; 1433-7347
• DOI: 10.1007/s00167-011-1635-5

Purpose The goal of the present study was to evaluate static anteroposterior and rotational knee laxity after ACL reconstructions with two noninvasive measurement devices by comparing the measured results of the operated with the contralateral healthy knees of the patients. Methods Fifty-two consecutive patients were reviewed after isolated single-bundle transtibial ACL reconstruction using a BPTB graft. At a mean follow-up of 27 months, sagittal AP laxity was tested using a noninvasive knee measurement system (Genourob) with an applied pressure of 67 N, 89 N and 134 N. Rotational laxity was measured using a noninvasive rotational knee laxity device (Rotameter) with an applied torque of 5, 8 and 10 Nm. The results were compared with the measurements of the patients’ healthy contralateral knees. Tegner, Lysholm and IKDC score were used in order to evaluate the clinical outcome. Results Pivot shift was negative (33) or glide (16) in 49 patients with 12 of 16 (75%) patients having also a pivot glide on the healthy contralateral side; Lachman tests were negative in 50 cases. Subjective assessment of the IKDC score was classified according to category A in 44 patients, B in 5 patients and C in 3 patients. Mean Lysholm score was 94.5 ± 9.5, median Tegner score was 7 (3–9) preoperative and 6 (3–9) at follow-up (n.s.). Anteroposterior knee laxity measurements revealed mean side-to-side differences of 0.6–1.3 mm ( P