Validation of a new protocol for navigated intraoperative assessment of knee kinematics.
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.
Martelli
Sandra
S
Laboratorio di Biomeccanica, Istituti Ortopedici Rizzoli, via di Barbiano, 1/10, Bologna (BO) 40136, Italy. s.martelli@biomec.ior.it
Lopomo
Nicola
N
Bignozzi
Simone
S
Zaffagnini
Stefano
S
Visani
Andrea
A
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