Takayuki Murayama1, Takashi Sato2, Satoshi Watanabe3, Koichi Kobayashi4, Osamu Tanifuji5, Tomoharu Mochizuki5, Hiroshi Yamagiwa5, Yoshio Koga6, Go Omori7, Naoto Endo5. 1. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Niigata Medical Center, 3-27-11 Kobari, Nishi-ku, Niigata 950-2022, Japan; Division of Orthopaedic Surgery, Department of Regenerative and Transplant Medicine, Niigata University Graduate School of Medicine and Dental Science, 757 Asahimachidori-Ichibancho, Chuo-ku, Niigata 951-8510, Japan. 2. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Niigata Medical Center, 3-27-11 Kobari, Nishi-ku, Niigata 950-2022, Japan. Electronic address: takuukat2032@gmail.com. 3. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Niigata Medical Center, 3-27-11 Kobari, Nishi-ku, Niigata 950-2022, Japan. 4. Department of Health Sciences, Niigata University School of Medicine, Niigata 951-8518, Japan. 5. Division of Orthopaedic Surgery, Department of Regenerative and Transplant Medicine, Niigata University Graduate School of Medicine and Dental Science, 757 Asahimachidori-Ichibancho, Chuo-ku, Niigata 951-8510, Japan. 6. Division of Orthopaedic Biomechanics, Hokuetsu Hospital, Niigata 957-0018, Japan. 7. Department of Health and Sports, Niigata University of Health and Welfare, Niigata 950-3198, Japan.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury often leads to symptoms of instability, which may cause meniscus injury, osteochondral lesions, and degenerative changes. For thorough evaluation of the effects of abnormal motion of ACL-deficient (ACLD) knees on the meniscus and articular cartilage, it is necessary to assess tibiofemoral motion in the medial and lateral compartments separately. Our aim was to determine if in vivo three-dimensional (3D) dynamic motion of ACLD knees differs from that of contralateral uninjured knees by assessing knee motion in the medial and lateral compartments respectively. METHODS: A total of 22 patients with an isolated ACL-injured knee were examined. 3D to two-dimensional registration was used to determine 3D knee motion during squatting from full knee extension to full flexion for both ACLD and contralateral uninjured knees. The knee motion was evaluated by the movement of the geometric center axis of the femur projected onto the tibial axial plane. RESULTS: In ACLD knees the lateral femoral condyle was located significantly more posteriorly during nearly full extension than in contralateral uninjured knees. The range of anteroposterior translation of the medial femoral condyle was significantly greater than those of contralateral uninjured knees. Almost all of the contralateral uninjured knees demonstrated medial pivot motion, while the ACLD knees showed higher variance. CONCLUSIONS: The ACLD knees exhibited a motion pattern different from those of contralateral uninjured knees with higher variance. During nearly full extension of the ACLD knees, the lateral femoral condyle translated posteriorly and the screw-home movement seemed to be impaired. The ACL might have an important role in maintaining normal knee function, especially during the early flexion phase. The larger range of anteroposterior translation of the medial femoral condyle in ACLD knees may be associated with a risk of secondary meniscal injury and degenerative change in the articular cartilage. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV.
BACKGROUND: Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury often leads to symptoms of instability, which may cause meniscus injury, osteochondral lesions, and degenerative changes. For thorough evaluation of the effects of abnormal motion of ACL-deficient (ACLD) knees on the meniscus and articular cartilage, it is necessary to assess tibiofemoral motion in the medial and lateral compartments separately. Our aim was to determine if in vivo three-dimensional (3D) dynamic motion of ACLD knees differs from that of contralateral uninjured knees by assessing knee motion in the medial and lateral compartments respectively. METHODS: A total of 22 patients with an isolated ACL-injured knee were examined. 3D to two-dimensional registration was used to determine 3D knee motion during squatting from full knee extension to full flexion for both ACLD and contralateral uninjured knees. The knee motion was evaluated by the movement of the geometric center axis of the femur projected onto the tibial axial plane. RESULTS: In ACLD knees the lateral femoral condyle was located significantly more posteriorly during nearly full extension than in contralateral uninjured knees. The range of anteroposterior translation of the medial femoral condyle was significantly greater than those of contralateral uninjured knees. Almost all of the contralateral uninjured knees demonstrated medial pivot motion, while the ACLD knees showed higher variance. CONCLUSIONS: The ACLD knees exhibited a motion pattern different from those of contralateral uninjured knees with higher variance. During nearly full extension of the ACLD knees, the lateral femoral condyle translated posteriorly and the screw-home movement seemed to be impaired. The ACL might have an important role in maintaining normal knee function, especially during the early flexion phase. The larger range of anteroposterior translation of the medial femoral condyle in ACLD knees may be associated with a risk of secondary meniscal injury and degenerative change in the articular cartilage. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV.