title: The use of functional knee braces in the control of pathologic anterior knee laxity.
abstract: Four designs of knee braces, Don-Joy 4 Point, RKS, Lenox Hill, and CTi, were evaluated in 42 patients with a unilateral knee brace. Brace migration was the predominant complaint, as noted in patient questionnaires. All braces tested reduced giving-way episodes (34 of 42 patients reported no giving way during brace usage). All four brands of braces reduced the grade of pivot shift (mean reduction = 0.8 grade). Instrumented laxity testing with the KT-1000 arthrometer was performed with an 89-N passive anterior displacement, high load passive anterior displacement, and a quadriceps contraction active displacement. Brace use decreased the measured pathologic anterior displacement on all tests. During functional testing with one-legged hop and 40-yard shuttle run, the mean values were not significantly changed by brace usage.
authors.affiliation: Division of Orthopedic Surgery, University of California, San Diego School of Medicine.
authors.forename: D K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Mishra
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Daniel
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Stone
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001915:Braces / Q000009:adverse effects; D004487:Edema / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007593:Joint Instability / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000503:physiopathology; D008023:Ligaments, Articular / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009068:Movement; D010146:Pain / Q000503:physiopathology; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013977:Tibia / Q000503:physiopathology