Chronic anterior cruciate ligament deficiency is associated with increased anterior translation of the tibia during the transition from non-weightbearing to weightbearing.

Translation of the tibia relative to the femur was measured while a group of subjects with normal knees and group with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears underwent transition from non-weightbearing to weightbearing stance. Subjects were positioned in the Vermont knee laxity device (VKLD) with muscles relaxed and the limb segment and compressive joint load offset (non-weightbearing). A lateral radiograph of the knee, with the posterior aspects of the femoral condyles superimposed, was obtained to document the position of the tibia relative to the femur. Immediately after, a compressive load equal to 40% of bodyweight was applied to each foot, and a second radiograph was obtained to document the change in position of the tibia relative to the femur. The transition from non-weightbearing to weightbearing produced a significant increase of anterior translation of the tibia relative to the femur (mean; 3.4 mm) for the subjects with ACL tears compared with the contralateral normal knees (0.8 mm). Similarly, there was a significant increase in anterior translation of the tibia for the subjects with ACL tears compared to the group of subjects with normal knees (1.2 mm). The fourfold increase in anterior translation of the tibia for the knees with ACL tears compared to the contralateral side is a concern because it is substantially greater than the 95% confidence limits of the side-to-side differences in anterior-posterior knee laxity measured from subjects with normal knees. This observation could explain, at least in part, one of the mechanisms that initiates damage to the meniscus and articular cartilage in subjects that have suffered an ACL tear.