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Sagittal plane laxity following knee arthroplasty
S H White1, J J O'Connor, J W Goodfellow
1Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre, Headington, Oxford England.
The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery. British Volume
|March 1, 1991
Summary
This study assessed knee replacement stability after surgery. Unconstrained knee prostheses showed normal stability with intact anterior cruciate ligaments, but increased laxity when the ligament was absent.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedic surgery
- Biomechanical analysis of joint stability
Background:
- Assessing the long-term stability of knee replacements is crucial for patient outcomes.
- Unconstrained prostheses aim to mimic natural knee biomechanics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To measure sagittal laxity in knee replacements using a KT-1000 arthrometer.
- To evaluate the impact of anterior cruciate ligament integrity on knee replacement stability.
Main Methods:
- Seventy knee replacements were assessed at least six months post-surgery.
- Sagittal laxity was measured using a KT-1000 arthrometer.
- Prostheses evaluated included the Oxford unconstrained meniscal knee.
Main Results:
- Knees with intact anterior cruciate ligaments and unconstrained prostheses demonstrated normal anteroposterior stability.
- A significant increase in sagittal laxity was observed in knees lacking an anterior cruciate ligament.
- No increase in sagittal laxity over time was noted in knees with an intact anterior cruciate ligament.
Conclusions:
- The integrity of the anterior cruciate ligament is a key factor in maintaining stability for unconstrained knee replacements.
- Unconstrained prostheses can achieve normal stability when the native anterior cruciate ligament is preserved.