Knee rotational laxity and proprioceptive function 2 years after partial ACL reconstruction.

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Sports Medicine
• Biomechanics

Background:

• Partial anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears are common injuries.
• Restoring knee function after ACL injury is crucial for patient recovery.
• Evaluating rotational laxity and proprioception is key to assessing knee stability and function.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate knee rotational laxity and proprioceptive function two years after partial ACL reconstruction.
• To determine if partial ACL reconstruction restores knee function to the level of the intact knee.

Main Methods:

• Fifteen patients underwent partial ACL reconstruction using a single-incision technique with either a bone-patellar tendon-bone or semitendinosus graft.
• A custom device was developed to measure weight-bearing rotational laxity and assess active and passive knee proprioception.
• Measurements were taken on both the reconstructed and contralateral healthy knees at various flexion angles.

Main Results:

• No statistically significant differences were found in rotational laxity or proprioception between the reconstructed and healthy knees.
• External rotation exceeded internal rotation in both knees at full extension and 30° flexion.
• Active proprioception was significantly higher than passive proprioception in both knees.

Conclusions:

• Partial ACL reconstruction successfully restores knee rotational laxity and proprioceptive function.
• The findings suggest that partial ACL reconstruction is an effective treatment for partial ACL tears, leading to satisfactory knee function.