The predictive value of intraoperative KT-1000 arthrometer measurements in single incision anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction

We reviewed 28 patients who underwent anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with immediate, 1-, 2-, and 3-year postreconstruction KT-1000 manual maximum testing. Arthrometer measurements were correlated with functional knee criteria to evaluate the ability of the KT-1000 to predict postreconstruction functional results. Despite a range of immediate postreconstruction arthrometer injured-minus-normal (I - N) differences, there was no association with I - N difference at last follow-up. Patients followed-up for 1 year were not different from those who were followed-up for longer with respect to intraoperative or 1-year I - N difference or functional performance scores. Furthermore, excellent functional knee scores were the norm at all stages of follow-up despite a wide range of arthrometric laxity changes. The results suggest that functional knee criteria, although partially subjective, are more useful indicators of outcome than intrareconstruction and postreconstruction arthrometric measures.