title: The effect of thigh and goniometer restraints on the reproducibility of the genucom knee analysis system.
abstract: We compared the reproducibility of measurements made with the Genucom knee analysis system using two methods of restraint. The first method was that suggested by the manufacturer and consisted of clamping the thigh to the examination chair with 70 N of vertical force and 110 N of mediolateral force and used a single elastic strap to secure the electrogoniometer cuff to the leg. In the second, or enhanced, method, the vertical and mediolateral clamping forces were each increased to 156 N, and an additional strap was used to secure the cuff to the leg. Tests performed were the anteroposterior stress tests at 20 degrees and 90 degrees of knee flexion, and the varus-valgus stress test, the internal-external rotation stress test, and the medial and lateral pivot shift tests at 20 degrees. Five normal subjects were installed and tested on 6 different days with the manufacturer's suggested securing method and on 12 different days with the enhanced securing method. The enhanced method of restraint resulted in significantly reduced day-to-day variance for all tests performed except the varus-valgus stress test.
authors: University of Chicago Medical Center, Department of Surgery, Illinois.
authors: L F
authors: LF
authors: Draganich
authors: M R
authors: MR
authors: Sathy
authors: B
authors: B
authors: Reider
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D009983:Orthopedic Equipment; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012149:Restraint, Physical; D013848:Thigh