Skip to main content
Log in

The effects of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction on tibial rotation during pivoting after descending stairs

  • Knee
  • Published:
Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy Aims and scope

Abstract

Recent in vitro research suggests that ACL reconstruction does not restore tibial rotation. This study investigated rotational knee joint stability in vivo during a combined descending and pivoting movement that applies a high rotational load to the knee joint. We studied 20 ACL reconstructed patients (bone–patellar tendon–bone graft) and 15 matched controls with a six-camera optoelectronic system performing the examined movement. In the control group the results showed no significant differences in the amount of tibial rotation between the two sides. No significant differences were also found between the contralateral intact leg of the ACL group and the healthy control. However, a significant difference was found within the ACL reconstructed group and between the reconstructed and the contralateral intact leg. Therefore ACL reconstruction may not restore tibial rotation even though anterior tibial translation has been reestablished.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Andriacchi T, Birac D (1993) Functional testing in the anterior cruciate ligament-deficient knee. Clin Orthop 228:40–47

    Google Scholar 

  2. Andriacchi TP, Andersson GBJ, Fermier RW et al (1980) A study of lower-limb mechanics during stair-climbing. J Bone Joint Surg Am 62:749–757

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Bach BRJ, Tradonsky S, Bojchuk J et al (1998) Arthroscopically assisted anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using patellar tendon autograft. Five- to nine-year follow-up evaluation. Am J Sports Med 26:20–29

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Brandsson S, Karlsson J, Sward L et al (2002) Kinematics and laxity of the knee joint after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Pre- and postoperative radiostereometric studies. Am J Sports Med 30:361–367

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Bush-Joseph CA, Hurwitz DE, Patel RR et al (2001) Dynamic function after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with autologous patellar tendon. Am J Sports Med 29:36–41

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Cappozzo A, Catani F, Leardini A et al (1996) Position and orientation in space of bones during movement: experimental artefacts. Clin Biomech 11:90–100

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Chambers H, Sutherland D (2002) A practical guide to gait analysis. J Am Acad Orthop Surg 10:222–231

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Daniel DM, Malcom LL, Losse G et al (1985) Instrumented measurement of anterior laxity of the knee. J Bone Joint Surg Am 67:720–726

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Davis R, Ounpuu S, Tyburski D et al (1991) A gait analysis data collection and reduction technique. Hum Movement Sci 10:575–587

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Devita P, Hortobagyi T, Barrier J (1998) Gait biomechanics are not normal after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction and accelerated rehabilitation. Med Sci Sports Exerc 30:1481–1488

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Fox JM, Sherman OH, Markolf K (1985) Arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament repair: preliminary results and instrumented testing for anterior stability. Arthroscopy 1:175–181

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Gage J (1993) Gait analysis. An essential tool in the treatment of cerebral palsy. Clin Orthop 228:126–134

    Google Scholar 

  13. Georgoulis AD, Papadonikolakis A, Papageorgiou CD et al (2003) Three-dimensional tibiofemoral kinematics of the anterior cruciate deficient and reconstructed knee during walking. Am J Sports Med 31:75–79

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Hara K, Kubo T, Suginoshita T et al (2000) Reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament using a double bundle. Arthroscopy 16:860–864

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Jonsson H, Karrholm J, Elmqvist LG (1993) Laxity after cruciate ligament injury in 94 knees. The KT-1000 arthrometer versus roentgen stereophotogrammetry. Acta Orthop Scand 64:567–570

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Kanamori A, Zeminski J, Rudi TW et al (2002) The effect of axial tibial torque on the function of the anterior cruciate ligament: a biomechanical study of a simulated pivot shift test. Arthroscopy 18:394–398

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Kowalk DL, Duncan JA, McCue FC et al (1997) Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction and joint dynamics during stair climbing. Med Sci Sports Exerc 29:1406–1413

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Levy IM, Torzilli PA, Warren RF (1982) The effect of medial meniscectomy on anterior-posterior motion of the knee. J Bone Joint Surg Am 64:883–888

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Loh J, Fukuda Y, Tsuda E et al (2003) Knee stability and graft function following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: comparison between 11 o’clock and 10 o’clock femoral tunnel placement. Arthroscopy 19:297–304

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Lucchetti L, Cappozzo A, Cappello A et al (1998) Skin movement artefact assessment and compensation in the estimation of knee-joint kinematics. J Biomech 31:977–984

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Markolf KL, Bargar WL, Shoemaker SC et al (1981) The role of joint load in knee stability. J Bone Joint Surg Am 63:570–585

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Reinschmidt C, Bogert Avd, Nigg B et al (1997) Effect of skin movement on the analysis of skeletal knee joint motion during running. J Biomech 30:729–732

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Sakane M, Fox RJ, Woo SL et al (1997) In situ forces in the anterior cruciate ligament and its bundles in response to anterior tibial loads. J Orthop Res 15:285–293

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Steiner M, Brown C, Zarins B et al (1990) Measurement of anterior-posterior displacement of the knee. A comparison of the results with instrumented devices and with clinical examination. J Bone Joint Surg Am 72:1307–1315

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Tegner Y, Lysholm J (1985) Rating systems in the evaluation of knee ligament injuries. Clin Orthop 198:43–49

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Vergis A, Gillquist J (1998) Sagittal plane translation of the knee during stair walking. Comparison of healthy and anterior cruciate ligament-deficient subjects. Am J Sports Med 26:841–846

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Woltring HJ (1986) A Fortran package for generalised, cross-validatory spline smoothing and differentiation. Adv Eng Software 8:104–107

    Google Scholar 

  28. Woo SL, Kanamori A, Zeminski J et al (2002) The effectiveness of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction by hamstrings and patellar tendon: a cadaveric study comparing anterior tibial load vs rotational loads. J Bone Joint Surg Am 84:907–914

    Google Scholar 

  29. Wroble R, Ginkel LV, Grood E et al (1990) Repeatability of the KT-1000 arthrometer in a normal population. Am J Sports Med 18:396–399

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors gratefully acknowledge the funding support from the Greek Ministry of Sports.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to A. D. Georgoulis.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Ristanis, S., Giakas, G., Papageorgiou, C.D. et al. The effects of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction on tibial rotation during pivoting after descending stairs. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 11, 360–365 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-003-0428-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-003-0428-x

Keywords

Navigation