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Knee joint position sense in compressive myelopathy.
Teruaki Okuda1, Mitsuo Ochi, Nobuhiro Tanaka
1Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Division of Clinical Medical Science, Programs for Applied Biomedicine, Faculty of Medicine, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan. teruo@tree.odn.ne.jp
Spine
|February 17, 2006
Summary
Knee joint position sense (JPS) effectively evaluates lower limb function in myelopathy patients. Impaired JPS correlates with walking and sensory deficits, aiding clinical assessment.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Orthopedics
- Rehabilitation Medicine
Background:
- Quantitative analysis of knee joint proprioception in myelopathy patients is not well-documented.
- Compressive myelopathy can significantly impact neurological function and mobility.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the utility of knee joint position sense (JPS) and kinesthesia in evaluating lower limb function in patients with compressive myelopathy.
- To explore the relationship between JPS, kinesthesia, lower limb function, and central motor conduction time (CMCT).
Main Methods:
- Twenty-one patients with compressive myelopathy underwent measurements of knee JPS and kinesthesia.
- JPS and kinesthesia values were analyzed in correlation with lower limb function and CMCT.
Main Results:
- Patients with severe walking disabilities exhibited significantly larger knee JPS inaccuracies compared to those with mild disabilities.
- Greater knee JPS inaccuracies were observed in patients with severe sensory disturbances versus those with mild disturbances.
- A significant correlation was found between CMCT and knee JPS.
Conclusions:
- Knee JPS serves as a valuable tool for assessing lower limb function in individuals with compressive myelopathy.
- JPS measurements can help quantify functional deficits related to myelopathy, aiding in patient management and prognosis.