Brief report: validation of a system for automated measurement of knee laxity.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the accuracy and repeatability of an automated quantitative fluoroscopic imaging system for measuring knee laxity.


METHODS
Cadaveric validation study.


BACKGROUND
Current methods of measuring anterior-posterior laxity lack sufficient accuracy and repeatability. A commercially developed fluoroscopic software package, capable of measuring laxity, required validation.


METHODS
Five human cadaveric knees were used. A constant force of 130 N was applied anteriorly and posteriorly in turn to the tibia of each knee with the femur fixed in 30 degrees and 90 degrees of flexion. Quantitative fluoroscopic measurements of anterior-posterior laxity were determined using image analysis software. Fluoroscopic results were compared to the true anterior-posterior displacements of the tibia, which were simultaneously recorded using linear transducers directly attached to the cadaveric specimens.


RESULTS
The quantitative fluoroscopic method underestimated laxity by an average of 0.40 mm with a root mean square error of 0.49 mm. The 95% confidence intervals for anterior and posterior laxity error were calculated to be -0.99 to 0.25 mm and -0.89 to 0.03 mm, respectively, where a negative error represents an underestimation.


CONCLUSIONS
The quantitative fluoroscopic method offers a dramatic improvement in accuracy over current laxity measurement techniques and acceptable repeatability for assessing ligament damage.


CONCLUSIONS
The considerably more accurate, validated measurement system of this study could improve ligament assessment and diagnosis, and the recognition of injuries otherwise undetected with current methods.
Thompson
M T
MT
Institute of Orthopedic Research and Education, 6550 Fannin Street, Suite 2512, Houston, TX 77030, USA. mthompso@bcm.tmc.edu
Conditt
M A
MA
Ismaily
S K
SK
Agarwal
A
A
Noble
P C
PC
D005471:Fluoroscopy; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013977:Tibia / Q000502:physiology