title: Mechanoreceptors in the anterior cruciate ligament contribute to the joint position sense.
abstract: We have investigated the correlation between the number of mechanoreceptors in anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) remnants and the joint position sense just before an ACL reconstruction in 29 patients. The number of mechanoreceptors was evaluated histologically, using the Gairns gold chloride method. Mechanoreceptors were also found in patients who had a long interval between injury and the operation. A joint position sense test was done within 3 days before surgery. We found a positive correlation between the number of mechanoreceptors and accuracy of the joint position sense, suggesting that proprioceptive function of the ACL is related to the number of mechanoreceptors. Therefore, we should consider preserving ACL remnants during ACL reconstruction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Shimane Medical University, Izumo, Japan.
authors.forename: Nobuo
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Adachi
authors.forename: Mitsuo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ochi
authors.forename: Yuji
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Uchio
authors.forename: Junji
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Iwasa
authors.forename: Koji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ryoke
authors.forename: Masakazu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kuriwaka
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016118:Anterior Cruciate Ligament / Q000294:innervation*; D005260:Female; D006652:Histological Techniques; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008465:Mechanoreceptors / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011434:Proprioception / Q000502:physiology*