Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries Alter the Kinematics of Knees With or Without Meniscal Deficiency

Numerous studies have investigated kinematic alterations in patients with an isolated anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. However, a substantial proportion of patients with injured ACLs also have concomitant meniscal tears.

To evaluate the in vivo alteration of knee kinematics after an ACL tear, with or without a combined medial or lateral meniscal tear, during level walking activity.

Controlled laboratory study.

Fifty-six patients with unilateral ACL-deficient (ACLD) knees were studied. Among these patients, 15 had isolated ACL injuries (group 1), 15 had combined ACL and medial meniscal injuries (group 2), 15 had combined ACL and lateral meniscal injuries (group 3), and 11 had combined ACL and medial/lateral meniscal injuries (group 4). The kinematics of each knee was determined using an optical tracking system during treadmill gait. Range of motion (ROM) and kinematic alterations were compared between the contralateral ACL-intact (ACLI) and ACLD knees.

All ACLD knees, with or without meniscal deficiency, had significantly less flexion than the ACLI knees (~3°-8°; P < .05). In groups 1, 3, and 4, the injured knees exhibited more femoral external rotation by approximately 1° to 2° (P < .05). Group 4 showed posterior femoral translation (anterior tibial translation) in the swing phase (~13 mm), while groups 2 and 3 showed increased anterior femoral translation (~2-3 mm). During medial-lateral translation, patients in group 2 had a more medial femoral shift (~4 mm) relative to the tibia initially, while those in group 4 exhibited a lateral femoral shift.

The results indicate that meniscal injuries alter the kinematics of the ACLD knee when compared with knees with an isolated ACL injury. The location of the meniscal tear also affects knee kinematics.

Considering the varying effects of meniscal injuries on knee joint kinematics, these data provide insight into the pathological function of the ACL-injured knee joint during walking.