title: Validation of a new protocol for navigated intraoperative assessment of knee kinematics.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study describes a novel method for accurate evaluations of knee kinematics during arthroscopic reconstructions of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL).
  
  
  METHODS
  Quantitative evaluation of knee stability was estimated by experimental validation on 30 volunteers and by statistical analysis of test repeatability.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Proposed method present short learning time, is minimally invasive and thus suitable for arthroscopic techniques. Computed laxity showed a repeatability of 1.5 degrees for varus-valgus, 3 degrees for internal-external, and 2mm for antero-posterior tests.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This method represents a reliable quantification of knee kinematics in surgery, able to improve present intra-operative assessment of knee stability.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio di Biomeccanica, Istituti Ortopedici Rizzoli, via di Barbiano, 1/10, Bologna (BO) 40136, Italy. s.martelli@biomec.ior.it
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Martelli
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lopomo
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bignozzi
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zaffagnini
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Visani
mesh_terms: D001182:Arthroscopy; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003198:Computer Simulation; D006801:Humans; D007432:Intraoperative Period; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology* / Q000601:surgery; D008954:Models, Biological