The functional assessment of the untreated and the reconstructed posterior cruciate ligament deficient knee

Robert Wen Wei Hsu*, Cheng Kung Cheng, Yang Hua Lin

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal Article peer-review

Abstract

Seventeen patients with rupture of the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL), 7 untreated and 10 having reconstruction of the PCL using the medial head of the gastrocnemius and the attached adductor tendon, were recruited for functional evaluation. The clinical functional status of the knee joint was evaluated in accordance with Hughston's criteria and Lysholm's score. The patients' gaits were analyzed using a three-dimensional electrogoniometer and mats. Muscle strength was assessed via Cybex-340; and a KT-1000 arthrometer was used to measure the laxity of the knee joints. Muscle strength tests showed a significant difference (p < 0.01) in the knee extensors when the injured side was compared with the noninjured side in the untreated group, while no significant difference existed in reconstructed group. The gait analysis revealed that a significant difference existed over the velocity (p < 0.05) when the reconstructed group was compared with the untreated group. The KT-1000 arthrometer test demostrated that the anterior and posterior drawer at a knee flexion of 70 degrees and the posterior tibial sag screen at 90 degrees, differed significantly (p < 0.01) between injured and noninjured limbs in the untreated group. In the reconstructed group only the anterior drawer presented a significant difference (p < 0.05) between the injured and noninjured limbs. Using Hughston's and Lysholm's criteria, reconstruction was shown to have improved the knees' functions and scores postoperatively (p < 0.01). The authors concluded that although the overall clinical results along with dynamic function, stability and strength of the extensor of the knee joints with PCL deficiency, were significantly improved after reconstruction using the medial head of the gastrocnemius together with the adductor tendon, yet, the normal perfect knee functions were still not achieved. A more sophisticated reconstructive procedure needs further investigation.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)27-34
Number of pages8
JournalJournal of Musculoskeletal Research
Volume2
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 03 1998
Externally publishedYes

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