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Updated: Aug 21, 2026
Using a Knee Arthrometer to Evaluate Tissue-specific Contributions to Knee Flexion Contracture in the Rat
Published on: November 9, 2018
A new mechanical testing device for measuring anteroposterior knee laxity
Andreas J Schuster1, Mike J McNicholas, Stefan W Wachtl
1Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Hôpital Cantonal, Fribourg, Switzerland. andreas.schuster@spitalbern.ch <andreas.schuster@spitalbern.ch>
Background:
The authors assessed a new instrument, the Rolimeter, for the measurement of anteroposterior translation in the knee; it was compared to the KT-1000 arthrometer.
Purpose:
To determine if the Rolimeter offers a valid method for the measurement of anteroposterior translation that is as reproducible and reliable as the KT-1000 arthrometer.
Methods:
Two of 3 observers examined 16 normal subjects (32 knees) and 36 patients (72 knees) with ligament ruptures twice, using both the Rolimeter and the KT-1000 arthrometers, 30 minutes apart. Total anteroposterior translation (manual maximal Lachman test) was recorded at 20 degrees and 80 degrees of knee flexion.
Results:
On average, the Rolimeter measured approximately 1 mm less anteroposterior displacement than the KT-1000 arthrometer at manual maximum stress. Rolimeter measurements were more consistent than the KT-1000 measurements as measured by our observers. Specificity and sensitivity were equivalent between the Rolimeter and the KT-1000 arthrometer.
Conclusions:
The Rolimeter is as reproducible and reliable as the KT-1000 arthrometer. It offers a valid method for the measurement of anteroposterior translation in the knee. Higher accuracy was obtained at 20 degrees of flexion for the KT-1000 arthrometer and at 80 degrees of flexion for the Rolimeter.
