Tina Ganderup1, Carsten Jensen2,3, Anders Holsgaard-Larsen2,3, Jonas B Thorlund4. 1. Department of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark. tganderup@hotmail.com. 2. Department of Orthopedic Surgery and Traumatology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark. 3. Institute of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark. 4. Department of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark.
Abstract
PURPOSE: To investigate lower extremity muscle strength and functional performance before and after arthroscopic partial meniscectomy in middle-aged patients with degenerative meniscal tears. We hypothesized that patients would experience deficiencies in the affected leg at 3 months post-surgery, and that this deficiency would be normalized at 12 months following surgery. METHODS: Twenty-three patients (46 ± 6.5 years) meniscectomized in 2012 and 2013 were examined for knee extension, knee flexion, and hip abduction maximal isometric muscle strength (iMVC), rate of force development (RFD200), and knee function (single-leg hop for distance and single-leg knee bends in 30 s.) before surgery, 3 and 12 months after surgery. RESULTS: Functional performance, knee extension iMVC and RFD200 were impaired in the affected leg compared to the contralateral leg (p < 0.05) prior to surgery. A significant (Knee extension RFD200, p = 0.033) or borderline significant improvement was observed in the affected leg compared to the contralateral leg from before to 12 months after surgery in most variables (leg × time interaction, n.s.). CONCLUSION: Middle-aged patients undergoing surgery for degenerative medial meniscal tears show significant reductions in muscle strength, rapid force production, and functional performance in the leg undergoing surgery compared to the contralateral leg prior to surgery. These deficits in muscle strength and knee function were still present at 3 months post-surgery but were no longer observed at 12 months following surgery. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.
PURPOSE: To investigate lower extremity muscle strength and functional performance before and after arthroscopic partial meniscectomy in middle-aged patients with degenerative meniscal tears. We hypothesized that patients would experience deficiencies in the affected leg at 3 months post-surgery, and that this deficiency would be normalized at 12 months following surgery. METHODS: Twenty-three patients (46 ± 6.5 years) meniscectomized in 2012 and 2013 were examined for knee extension, knee flexion, and hip abduction maximal isometric muscle strength (iMVC), rate of force development (RFD200), and knee function (single-leg hop for distance and single-leg knee bends in 30 s.) before surgery, 3 and 12 months after surgery. RESULTS: Functional performance, knee extension iMVC and RFD200 were impaired in the affected leg compared to the contralateral leg (p < 0.05) prior to surgery. A significant (Knee extension RFD200, p = 0.033) or borderline significant improvement was observed in the affected leg compared to the contralateral leg from before to 12 months after surgery in most variables (leg × time interaction, n.s.). CONCLUSION: Middle-aged patients undergoing surgery for degenerative medial meniscal tears show significant reductions in muscle strength, rapid force production, and functional performance in the leg undergoing surgery compared to the contralateral leg prior to surgery. These deficits in muscle strength and knee function were still present at 3 months post-surgery but were no longer observed at 12 months following surgery. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.