Biomechanical analysis of the knee after rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament and its primary repair. An instant-centre analysis of function.
Sixty-five knees were subjected to a kinematic analysis using the instant-centre technique in order to determine the effect of deficiency of the anterior cruciate ligament on the biomechanics of active movement in the knee. The instant-centre pathway in acute ruptures of the anterior cruciate ligament was found to have a specific abnormality. This corresponded with a positive pivot-shift sign, but was present even when that sign was not clinically detectable. Primary repair using a transosseous wire suture did not usually abolish the biomechanical abnormality. The data provide a possible explanation for the doubtful prognosis of primary repair of this ligament and encourage clinical and biomechanical evaluation of alternative procedures such as primary augmented repair.
D000328:Adult; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D006801:Humans; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000503:physiopathology; D008023:Ligaments, Articular / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery; D008722:Methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D009068:Movement; D012421:Rupture