Functional measurement of knee joint position sense after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction

OBJECTIVE: To examine for differences in joint position sense (JPS) between knees with reconstructed anterior cruciate ligaments (ACLs) and uninjured knees by using a functional weight-bearing measurement method. DESIGN: Two-way repeated-measures in a convenience sample. SETTING: An Australian university rehabilitation laboratory. PARTICIPANTS: Nine subjects presenting at 12 to 16 months after unilateral ACL reconstruction using the semitendinosus/gracilis graft who were recruited from 2 orthopedic surgeons. INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: JPS of the reconstructed and uninjured knees was examined by using the Peak Motus motion measurement system to record target joint angles and to calculate reproduced angles after limb movement into flexion and extension, performed in a weight-bearing position. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in JPS between reconstructed and uninjured knees (P=.68) or between the flexion and extension tasks (P=.47). CONCLUSION: There was no deficit in knee JPS 12 to 16 months after ACL reconstruction, as measured by a functional weight-bearing method. Further studies should examine the clinical utility of the method as a way to evaluate functional aspects of knee joint proprioception.     

本体感觉训练在膝前交叉韧带重建术后康复中的应用

目的探讨本体感觉训练在前交叉韧带重建术后康复中的作用。方法将前交叉韧带重建术后患者42例按病区分为本体感觉促进组(26例)和对照组(16例),对照组应用一般康复训练方法,本体感觉促进组应用一般康复训练方法和本体感觉强化训练。术后6个月进行患者位置觉测定、膝关节功能评分及关节稳定性检查。结果在被动角度重现测试中,本体感觉促进组患侧膝的总平均偏差为(4.10±1.38)°,健侧膝的总平均偏差为(3.76±1.93)°,两侧膝比较,差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。对照组患侧膝的总平均偏差为(4.85±1.55)°,健侧膝的总平均偏差为(3.56±1.72)°,患侧膝的总平均偏差显著大于健侧(P<0.01)。本体感觉促进组的Lysholm评分显著高于对照组(P<0.05)。2组患侧膝Lanchman和Pivotshift检查均为阴性。结论前交叉韧带重建术后应用强化本体感觉训练能促进下肢功能的恢复。     

Proprioceptive and behavior impairments in individuals with anterior cruciate ligament reconstructed knees

OBJECTIVE: To assess sensory deficits and their effects on proprioceptive and motor function in patients who had undergone unilateral anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. DESIGN: Four evaluations were conducted: (1) joint position perception of the knee for predetermined angles (0 degrees, 15 degrees, 30 degrees, 45 degrees, 60 degrees ); (2) threshold for detection of passive knee motion at 0 degrees, 15 degrees, 30 degrees, 45 degrees, and 60 degrees moving into flexion and at 15 degrees, 30 degrees, 45 degrees, and 60 degrees moving into extension; (3) latency onset of hamstring muscles; and (4) postural control during upright double- and single-leg stance. SETTING: Movement laboratory in Brazil. PARTICIPANTS: Ten participants who had surgical reconstruction of the ACL (reconstructed group) and 10 participants without knee injury (control group). INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Absolute error, angular displacement, hamstring muscles latency, and mean sway amplitude. RESULTS: Individuals with a reconstructed knee showed decreased joint position perception, a higher threshold for detection of passive knee motion, longer latency of hamstring muscles, and decreased performance in postural control. CONCLUSIONS: After lesion and ACL reconstruction, sensory and motor behavior changes were still observed. This may be because of the lack of proprioceptive information resulting from the ACL lesion and/or substitution of ACL by the graft.     

同种异体肌腱重建膝前交叉韧带患者的康复护理

目的 探讨关节镜下胫骨双隧道同种异体肌腱莺建膝前交叉韧带术前术后的康复护理方法.方法 对2006年11月-2007年7月30例接受该手术患者术前行心理护理和指导功能锻炼,术后实行分阶段的主动膝关节屈伸功能锻炼,股四头肌肌力以及小腿后肌群的功能锻炼,正确使用膝关节支具的护理指导.结果 术后2周关节活动度达到95.,4周达到125.,关节功能评分(Lysholm评分法)术后6周可达(74.8±5.7)分,9周达(80.0±2.3)分,12周可达(91.8±3.4)分,1年可达(94.5±2.2)分.结论 围手术期针对性的康复护理指导是功能恢复的重要保证.     

关节镜下双股半腱肌移植前交叉韧带重建术后的康复

目的　探讨关节镜下双股半腱肌移植重建术前交叉韧带 (anteriorcruciateligament ,ACL)手术后配套的康复治疗计划及其在临床康复中的可行性。方法　研究设康复组患者 3 4例 ,对照组 2 1例。术后康复计划实施程序分 3个周期。Ⅰ期 :保护性康复期 ;Ⅱ期 :康复训练准备期 ;Ⅲ期 :抗阻力肌力强化训练期。结果　康复组除 2名 5 0岁以上女性患者关节活动度 (ROM )屈曲受限约 2 0°外 ,其余全部恢复正常。ROM达正常平均 8周 ,全部患者关节稳定性好。同期对比对照组显示 :ROM恢复迟缓 ,肌肉萎缩明显 ,关节达到正常ROM平均为 16周 ,8名患者屈曲受限 2 0° ,χ2 检验二组资料P <0 .0 1。结论　康复计划的实施可有效地防止术后并发症 ,是保证膝关节功能康复的重要措施。该项技术的应用与普及 ,有助于ACL术后康复水平的提高     

Gait adaptation in chronic anterior cruciate ligament-deficient patients: Pivot-shift avoidance gait

Background

A variety of biomechanical adaptations of the knee during gait have been reported in ACL-deficient patients to cope with anteroposterior knee instability. However, strategies to prevent rotatory knee instability are less recognized. We hypothesized that ACL-deficient patients would make distinctive gait changes to prevent anterolateral rotatory knee instability. Specifically, we hypothesized that during the terminal stance phase of the gait cycle, ACL-deficient patients would reduce the internal rotation knee joint moment and exhibit a higher knee flexion angle. We call this altered gait a pivot-shift avoidance gait. We also hypothesized that patients would not be able to adapt their knee biomechanics as efficiently at a fast gait speed.

Methods

Twenty-nine patients with chronic ACL deficiency and 15 healthy volunteers took part in a treadmill gait analysis. The terminal stance phase was analyzed under both comfortable and fast gait speed conditions.

Findings

At both gait speeds, ACL-deficient patients significantly reduced the internal rotation knee joint moment and showed larger knee flexion angles during the terminal stance phase of the gait cycle than did the control group. However, the difference in the minimum knee flexion angle between groups under the fast gait speed condition was not statistically significant.

Interpretation

ACL-deficient patients adopted the proposed pivot-shift avoidance gait, possibly to prevent anterolateral rotatory knee instability. The patients were not able to adapt their knee biomechanics as effectively during fast-paced walking. This study reinforces the pertinence of gait analysis in ACL-deficient knees to acquire more information about the function of the knee joint.     

Consistency of strength curves for determining maximal effort production during isokinetic knee testing of anterior cruciate ligament-deficient patients

The purpose of this investigation was to attempt to establish decision rules for determining maximal effort production during isokinetic strength testing of unilateral anterior cruciate ligament-deficient patients based on the degree of strength curve consistency within a set. Thirty-three participants performed six bilateral knee extension and flexion exertions at maximal effort and at 80% of perceived maximum at testing velocities of 60 and 180°s^–1. Within-set consistency was quantified by computation of the variance ratio across strength curves. Tolerance interval-based cutoff scores covering 99% of the population were calculated for declaring efforts as being maximal or not at confidence levels of 90%, 95%, and 99%. The sensitivity percentages attained for the injured knee for both testing velocities ranged between 9.1% and 27.2%, while specificity percentages ranged between 84.8% and 100%. For the non-injured knee, sensitivity values for both testing velocities ranged between 21.2% and 45.0%, while specificity percentages ranged between 97.0% and 100%. The developed decision rules do not effectively discriminate on an individual patient basis between maximal and non-maximal isokinetic knee musculature efforts. Further research is needed for development of methods that would enable to ascertain maximal effort production in this patient population during knee muscle strength testing.     

Functional recovery after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: a longitudinal perspective

Hopper DM, Strauss GR, Boyle JJ, Bell J. Functional recovery after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: a longitudinal perspective.

Objective

To evaluate functional hop performance in subjects with an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction with a bone-patellar tendon-bone graft during 12, 18, 26, 39, and 52 weeks.

Design

A longitudinal comparative study.

Setting

University research laboratory.

Participants

Patients (N=19) were evaluated at 12, 18, 26, 39, and 52 weeks after ACL reconstruction surgery.

Intervention

Testing on 5 separate occasions.

Main Outcome Measures

The Cincinnati Knee Rating System and analog scales, the 6-meter timed hop, crossover hop, stair hop, and vertical hop, and limb symmetry indices.

Results

The uninjured and injured legs and test order were randomized. There was a significant test occasion main effect for both the Cincinnati and analog scores (P=.001). Subjective rating scores improved over the 5 testing occasions. For all 4 hop tests, test occasion and limb main effects were significant (P=.001). Paired t test comparisons at each testing occasion indicated a significant difference between the reconstructed and uninjured limb (P<.05). Furthermore, significant test occasion main effects were noted for limb symmetry indices for the 4 hop tests (P=.001). Using a score of greater than or equal to 85% as a criterion for normative limb symmetry, normative scores were recorded in the 6-m timed hop at the week 18 test occasion, the stair hop and vertical hop at the week 26 test occasion, and the crossover hop at the week 39 test occasion.

Conclusions

These hop tests showed different levels of imposed demands on the knee that could be used to assess functional recovery and readiness to resume sport.     

Gait retraining after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction

OBJECTIVES: To examine the effects of 2 gait retraining protocols on the gait patterns of patients with bone-patellar tendon-bone anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. DESIGN: Randomized control, repeated-measures design. SETTING: Private orthopedic center and research facility. PARTICIPANTS: Sixteen patients with bone-patellar tendon-bone ACL reconstruction, randomly subdivided into 2 groups (group 1, n=8; group 2, n=8), and a healthy control group of 8 subjects. INTERVENTION: The 16 subjects with ACL reconstruction were randomly assigned to 2 different gait retraining protocols over a 6-week training interval: (1). a protocol using a predicted stride frequency calculated from the resonant frequency of a force-driven harmonic oscillator (FDHO) model or (2). a protocol using the preferred stride frequency (PSF). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Gait analyses examining the lower-extremity kinematic, kinetic, and energetic gait patterns of each group. RESULTS: Gait retraining with the FDHO model showed improvements in lower-extremity positions, hip and knee extensor angular impulse, and work parameters. Gait retraining with the PSF demonstrated no statistical improvements. The FDHO training protocol facilitated a greater midstance knee range of motion (ROM) and greater rates of improvement for midstance ROM, hip extensor angular impulse, and concentric hip extensor work. CONCLUSIONS: Gait retraining with the resonant frequency of an FDHO model facilitated a greater recovery of gait function compared with training with the PSF.     

A systematic review of bracing following reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament

Objectives

To determine whether the use of a postoperative knee brace following reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) affects clinical outcomes.

Data sources

The electronic databases AMED, Cinahl, Cochrane database, Embase, Medline (via Ovid), Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) and Pubmed were searched from their inception to August 2006. A manual search of pertinent specialist journals and the reference lists of identified articles was also performed.

Review methods

All English-language, human subject, controlled clinical trials that compared the effects of wearing a knee brace with not wearing a brace for 1 day to 3 months following ACL reconstruction were included. Two reviewers extracted the data independently from the included studies, and assessed the methodological quality of the literature using the PEDro scoring system.

Results

Seven papers comprising of 390 ACL reconstructions were included. There were no significant longer-term differences in outcomes between patients who wore knee braces and those who did not. The methodological assessment of the literature revealed a number of limitations, including not blinding assessors, not performing a power calculation to determine the sample size, and not concealing subject allocation.

Conclusions

There appeared to be no significant longer-term differences in clinical outcomes between patients who wore postoperative knee braces and those who did not. Areas for further study are suggested, most notably to assess this topic using more rigorous randomised controlled trial methodologies.     

An early return to vigorous activity may destabilize anterior cruciate ligaments reconstructed with hamstring grafts

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the actual date of the return to activity and its impact on the postsurgical stability of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) using hamstring grafts. DESIGN: A retrospective analysis. The time of return to activity was determined by a questionnaire at 24 to 36 months after ACLRs. SETTING: An orthopedic center. PARTICIPANTS: Fifty consecutive patients who had ACLRs using hamstring grafts 24 to 36 months earlier. INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable.Main outcome measure The time of return to activity from a questionnaire and serial KT-2000 data at 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months postsurgery. RESULTS: Patients were divided into 2 groups according to their KT-2000 side-to-side difference at 12, 18, and 24 months postsurgery. Group I consisted of patients whose differences were 3mm or less. Group II consisted of patients whose differences were more than 3mm. At 12 and 18 months postsurgery, significant differences were detected for the time of return to running and full-speed running. A multiple regression analysis for postsurgical stability at 24 months and the time of return to these 5 activities indicated that the time of return to full-speed running and sports activities had an effect on ACL stability. CONCLUSIONS: An early return to vigorous activities is not recommended in patients undergoing ACLRs with hamstring grafts.     

Interlimb asymmetry in persons with and without an anterior cruciate ligament deficiency during stationary cycling

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the power output generation from anterior cruciate ligament (ACL)-injured and noninjured limbs during stationary cycling. DESIGN: Repeated measures. SETTING: Research laboratory. PARTICIPANTS: Ten people with unilateral ACL deficiency and 10 uninjured controls matched for age and sex. INTERVENTIONS: Participants performed 6 randomized bouts of stationary cycling at intensities of 2 cadences (60, 90 rpm) and 3 power outputs (75, 125, 175 W) for approximately 2 minutes for each bout during a single laboratory visit. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The effective component of force (perpendicular to the crank) was measured and used to calculate the power output contribution from each limb to the total power output. RESULTS: Subjects with ACL injury generated significantly more power from uninjured limbs compared with that from injured limbs and the limbs of control subjects. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that people with ACL injury have a reduced total output from the injured limb and rely on the uninjured limb for most of the power output. This may compromise the ability to restore lower-limb muscle strength after injury.     

三结合康复护理模式在前交叉韧带重建术后患者中的应用

目的:探讨三结合康复护理模式在前交叉韧带重建术后患者中的应用效果。方法:选取20例行前交叉韧带重建术患者,将其随机等分为观察组和对照组,对照组术后给予常规护理,观察组采用三结合康复护理,比较两组患者治疗前后Lysholm膝关节评分。结果:观察组患者术后8周及术后9个月Lysholm膝关节评分均明显高于对照组,两组比较差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:合理、高效的术后康复护理能最大程度的恢复膝关节功能。     

Bilateral kinematic and kinetic analysis of the squat exercise after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction

OBJECTIVES: To characterize the bilateral lower-extremity kinematics and kinetics associated with squatting exercise after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. DESIGN: We evaluated bilaterally sagittal plane kinematics and kinetics of the ankle, knee, and hip joints during submaximal squatting exercise in rehabilitating patients after ACL reconstruction. Comparisons were performed between involved and noninvolved limbs, and regression models were created to examine the relations between the bilateral kinetic differences and time postsurgery. SETTING: A motion analysis laboratory. PARTICIPANTS: Eight adults (27.9+/-6.8y) with unilateral ACL reconstruction (postsurgical time, 30+/-12wk). INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Sagittal plane ankle, knee, and hip peak net moments of force, maximum joint excursion angles, and peak vertical ground reaction forces. RESULTS: Peak vertical ground reaction forces did not differ between limbs. The peak knee extensor moment generated during the submaximal squatting exercise was 25.5% greater in the noninvolved limb than in the involved limb (P=.003). The peak ankle plantarflexor moment did not differ between limbs (P=.85); however, there was a trend toward a greater hip extensor moment in the involved limb (P=.06). The ratio of the peak hip extensor moment to the peak knee extensor moment was 46.5% greater in the involved limb (P=.02). Only the peak dorsiflexion angle differed between limbs (P=.02). None of the linear models examining the relations between differences in the involved limb and noninvolved limb kinetics, and postsurgical time, were statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Patients performing the squat exercise, within 1 year of ACL reconstructive surgery, used 2 strategies for generating the joint torques required to perform the movement: (1) in the noninvolved limb, patients used a strategy that equally distributed the muscular effort between the hip and knee extensors, and (2) in the involved limb, patients used a strategy that increased the muscular effort at the hip and reduced the effort at the knee. These intra- and interlimb motor-programming alterations (ie, substitution strategies) could potentially slow or limit rehabilitation, and induce strength and performance deficits.     

Early rehabilitation after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction under regional analgesia: a case report

Patients undergoing major knee surgery may experience postoperative pain, which could be exacerbated by early postoperative continuous passive motion or active mobilization. This pain may result in poor functional recovery. Use of regional analgesia techniques to achieve more consistent pain relief and to facilitate rapid rehabilitation can play an important role in optimizing postoperative outcome after anterior cruciate ligament repair (ACLR). This case study concerns a 20-year-old male soldier, otherwise healthy, who underwent ACLR. We inserted a catheter in the fascia iliaca compartment and performed postoperative analgesia with low-concentration ropivacaine by using an elastomeric pump. The patient started early rehabilitation under fascia iliaca compartment analgesia. We discuss the case and the influence of regional analgesia techniques on postoperative and clinical outcomes.     

镜下前交叉韧带重建术中止血带应用的探讨

随着人们运动意识水平的增强和社会交通的快速发展,关节损伤患者的数量也大幅增加,而前交叉韧带(ACL)损伤是关节损伤中最常见的韧带损伤.目前治疗ACL损伤的标准手术方式是在关节镜下使用止血带进行前交叉韧带重建手术(ACLR),在ACLR中使用止血带可以减少患者出血,为术者提供一个清晰的手术视野,可为手术提供极大的便利,但...     

超声对急性膝关节前交叉韧带断裂的诊断价值

目的 评价高分辨力超声对急性膝关节前交叉韧带（ＡＣＬ）断裂的诊断价值。方法 采用７．５ＭＨｚ线阵探头,对３３例临床拟诊急性ＡＣＬ断裂患者术前行超声检查,并与关节镜手术结果比较。结果 超声诊断符合者３１例,假阴性２例,诊断正确率９３．３％。结论 高分辨力超声对急性ＡＣＬ断裂的诊断简便、无创、准确,具有较高的临床实用价值。     

Kinematic evaluation of the step-up exercise in anterior cruciate ligament deficiency

Background

Step-up exercise is one of the most commonly utilized exercises during rehabilitation of patients after both anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury and reconstruction. Currently, insurance providers increasingly required a trial of intensified rehabilitation before surgical reconstruction is attempted. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether this “safe” rehabilitation exercise in the setting of ACL deficiency can cause altered knee kinematics.

Methods

Thirty patients with unilateral ACL rupture were recruited for this study. The mean time from injury was 3.3 months. Tibiofemoral kinematics were determined during a step-up exercise using a combination of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), dual fluoroscopy and advanced computer modeling.

Findings

The ACL-injured knee displayed an average 5° greater external tibial rotation than the uninjured knee (P < 0.05), during the last 30% of step-up. The ACL-injured knee also demonstrated on average 2.5 mm greater anterior tibial shift during the last 40% of stance phase (P < 0.01). In addition, during the last 30% of stance the tibia of the ACL-deficient knee tended to shift more medially (~ 1 mm) as the knee approached full extension (P < 0.01).

Interpretation

The data confirmed the initial hypothesis as it was found that ACL deficient knees demonstrated significantly increased anterior tibial translation, medial tibial translation and external tibial rotation toward the end of the step-up as the knee approached full extension. Intensive rehabilitation utilizing the step-up exercise in the setting of ACL deficiency can potentially introduce repetitive microtrauma by way of altered kinematics.     

Association between knee function and kinesiophobia 6 months after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction

[Purpose] Kinesiophobia after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction has been identified as an inhibitor of return to sports. This study aimed to clarify the relationship between kinesiophobia and knee function 6 months after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction when the patient intends to return to sports. [Participants and Methods] A total of 66 patients who underwent primary anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (mean age 17.3 ± 2.6 years, 17 males and 49 females, Tegner activity score ≥7) were included in the study. The 11-item version of Tampa scale of kinesiophobia was used to evaluate kinesiophobia 6 months postoperatively. Knee function was evaluated with knee extension muscle strength, tibial anterior displacement, heel buttock distance, heel height difference, anterior knee pain score, and single-leg hop test. The relationship between Tampa scale of kinesiophobia, patient characteristics, and knee function was investigated. [Results] A low Anterior knee pain score and low single-leg hop test, male gender, and age were significant factors associated with kinesiophobia. [Conclusion] Kinesiophobia was associated with a low anterior knee pain score and low single-leg hop test 6 months after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Patients with a low single-leg hop test score or severe pain may need rehabilitation to reduce kinesiophobia.