title: [Latest changes of joint proprioceptive function after posterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using double-bundle semitendinosus and gracilis under arthroscopy].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore latest changes of joint proprioceptive function after posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) reconstruction using double-bundle semitendinosus and gracilis under arthroscope.
  
  
  METHODS
  From June 2001 to November 2002, 25 patients with PCL ruptures were treated by arthroscope PCL reconstruction using double-bundle semitendinosus and gracilis, among whom 19 were males and 6 were females, aged 16-58 years old (36 on average). There were 6 cases of exercise injury, 15 of vehicle accident and 4 of falling injury. The duration before the operation was 1 week to 4 months (2.5 months on average). The posterior drawer test showed 23 patients were positive and 2 patients in the acute stage were not cooperative. MRI indicated that all the patients had PCL injuries. The proprioceptive function of the knee joints was (4.73 +/- 0.12) degrees before operation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All patients' incisions obtained healing by first intention after the operation. The posterior drawer test showed that all the patients were negative. All 25 patients were followed up for 20-41 months (30.1 months on average). Eighteen months after operation, MRI indicated that bone marrow canal healed and internal fixation was stable. At the time of the last follow-up, the Lysholm score increased from (58.6 +/- 15.2) before operation to (93.2 +/- 7.4), and there was statistical difference (P < 0.05). The proprioceptive function of the knee joints was (5.67 +/- 0.32) degrees, (5.45 +/- 0.16) degrees, (3.80 +/- 0.01) degrees and (3.67 +/- 0.25) degrees at 5, 10, 15 and 20 months after operation, respectively. Statistical differences were observed between groups at 5, 10, 15, 20 months and the group before operation (P < 0.05). The proprioceptive function of the knee joints was (4.56 +/- 0.11) degrees at the final follow-up, and was significantly different from that of the normal knee joints was (2.13 +/- 0.41) degrees, (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Joint proprioceptive function decreases temporally after the arthroscopy PCL reconstruction and begins to restore 15 months after operation, and improves sharply 20 months after operation. All patients' Lysholm scores and symptoms improve after operation. Therefore, the operation is effective.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Affiliated Hospital of Weifang Medical College, Weifang Shandong, 261031, PR China.
authors.forename: Guiquan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Shaofeng
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Wenming
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.forename: Huancai
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001182:Arthroscopy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016119:Posterior Cruciate Ligament / Q000502:physiology* / Q000601:surgery; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011434:Proprioception; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods; D013710:Tendons / Q000601:surgery