Abstract

Objective: To determine whether positioning of the tibia affects the degree of tibial external rotation seen during a dial test in the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL)–posterolateral corner (PLC)-deficient knee.

Design: Laboratory investigation.

Setting: Biomechanics laboratory.

Hypothesis: An anterior force applied to the tibia in the combined PCL–PLC-deficient knee will yield increased tibial external rotation during a dial test.

Methods: The degree of tibial external rotation was measured with 5 N⋅m of external rotation torque applied to the tibia at both 30° and 90° of knee flexion. Before the torque was applied, an anterior force, a posterior force, or neutral (normal, reduced control) force was applied to the tibia. External rotation measurements were repeated after sequential sectioning of the PCL, the posterolateral structures and the fibular collateral ligament (FCL).

Results: Baseline testing of the intact specimens demonstrated a mean external rotation of 18.6° with the knee flexed to 30° (range 16.1–21.0°), and a mean external rotation of 17.3° with the knee flexed to 90° (range 13.8–20.0°). Sequential sectioning of the PCL, popliteus and popliteofibular ligament, and the FCL led to a significant increase in tibial external rotation compared with the intact knee for all testing scenarios. After sectioning of the popliteus and popliteofibular ligament, the application of an anterior force during testing led to a mean tibial external rotation that was 5° greater than during testing in the neutral position and 7.5° greater than during testing with a posterior force. In the PCL, popliteus/popliteofibular ligament and FCL-deficient knee, external rotation was 9° and 12° greater with the application of an anterior force during testing compared with neutral positioning and the application of a posterior force, respectively.

Conclusion: An anterior force applied to the tibia during the dial test in a combined PCL–PLC-injured knee increased the overall amount of observed tibial external rotation during the dial test. The anterior force reduced the posterior tibial subluxation associated with PCL injury, which is analogous to what is observed when the dial test is performed with the patient in the prone position. Reducing the tibia with either an anterior force when the patient is supine or performing the dial test with the patient in the prone position increases the ability of an examiner to detect a concomitant PLC injury in the setting of a PCL-deficient knee.