title: Knee rotational laxity and proprioceptive function 2 years after partial ACL reconstruction.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of our study was to evaluate knee rotational laxity and proprioceptive function 2 years after partial anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. According to our hypothesis, partial ACL reconstruction could restore knee laxity and function to the intact level.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a study in fifteen consecutive patients undergoing partial ACL reconstruction. Fifteen anteromedial bundle tears were identified intraoperatively. Partial ACL reconstructions were performed by the same senior surgeon using a single-incision technique. A bone-patellar tendon-bone graft was used in 13 cases and a double-stranded semitendinosus graft in 2 cases of chronic patellar tendonitis. The mean age at surgery was 29 years. The time between ACL tear and surgery averaged 7.8 months (range 2.5-29.5 months).                         We developed an original device designed to assess knee proprioception (passive and active) and measure weight-bearing rotational laxity in full extension and at 30°, 60° and 90° of knee flexion. All measurements were taken on both the reconstructed and healthy knee.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean follow-up of the study was 3.4 years (range 2.6-4.4). No statistically significant difference in rotational laxity, active or passive proprioception could be observed between the reconstructed and healthy knee. External rotation was significantly greater than internal rotation in full extension and at 30° of flexion in the reconstructed and the healthy knee (P < 0.05). For each knee, active proprioception was found to be significantly different (higher) than passive proprioception (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study did not detect any difference in rotational laxity and proprioception between the reconstructed and the healthy knee. Therefore, partial ACL reconstruction appears to restore satisfactory knee laxity and function in case of partial ACL tear.
  
  
  METHODS
  IV.
authors.affiliation: Service de Chirurgie Orthopédique, de Traumatologie et de Médecine du Sport, Centre Hospitalier Lyon-Sud, Chemin du Grand Revoyet, 69495 Pierre Bénite, Cedex, France. juchout@hotmail.com
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chouteau
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Testa
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Viste
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Moyen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016118:Anterior Cruciate Ligament / Q000601:surgery; D000070598:Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries; D059549:Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction / Q000379:methods*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007593:Joint Instability / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000517:prevention & control; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010808:Physical Examination / Q000379:methods; D011434:Proprioception / Q000502:physiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology; D012016:Reference Values; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012399:Rotation; D012421:Rupture / Q000601:surgery; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult