title: Posterior tibial displacement in the PCL-deficient knee is reduced compared to the normal knee during gait.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Most individuals with an isolated posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) injury do not complain of disability even if posterior instability is objectively revealed by a static physical examination, such as the posterior drawer test. This suggests it is insufficient to only evaluate posterior instability under static conditions. Therefore, we have investigated the effect of isolated PCL injury on the detailed kinematics of the knee in a dynamic environment such as during gait.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eight unilateral PCL-deficient males and eight healthy control volunteers participated in this study. Isolated PCL injury was diagnosed by clinical examination. Stress X-ray imaging showed an average side-to-side difference of 12.7 ± 3.5 mm. Knee kinematics including anteroposterior tibial displacement were analysed during walking using the point cluster technique.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Posterior tibial displacement from initial contact was significantly smaller during 9-22 % of the gait cycle by an average of 0.4 cm in the PCL group, compared to controls. In the PCL-deficient knee, the external rotational angle increased by an average of 3.3° at the loading response during 3-11 % of the gait cycle and the varus angle from initial contact increased by an average of 2.0° during 28-52 % of the gait cycle, compared to controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dynamic changes in the rotation and posterior translation patterns were seen after isolated PCL injury, suggesting the kinematics of PCL-deficient knees might be different to normal knees. These factors may contribute to long-term osteoarthritic change. Consequently, when choosing conservative treatment for PCL injury, these changes should be considered to prevent osteoarthritic change.
  
  
  METHODS
  III.
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, 1-2-3 Kasumi Minami-ku, Hiroshima, 734-8551, Japan.|Division of Clinical Support, Hiroshima University Hospital, Hiroshima, Japan.
authors.forename: Naoya
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Orita
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, 1-2-3 Kasumi Minami-ku, Hiroshima, 734-8551, Japan. snm3@hiroshima-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Masataka
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Deie
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical Support, Hiroshima University Hospital, Hiroshima, Japan.
authors.forename: Noboru
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Shimada
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical Support, Hiroshima University Hospital, Hiroshima, Japan.
authors.forename: Daisuke
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Iwaki
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, 1-2-3 Kasumi Minami-ku, Hiroshima, 734-8551, Japan.
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Asaeda
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical Support, Hiroshima University Hospital, Hiroshima, Japan.
authors.forename: Kazuhiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hirata
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan.
authors.forename: Mitsuo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ochi
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena / Q000502:physiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016119:Posterior Cruciate Ligament / Q000293:injuries*; D013977:Tibia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Dynamic condition; Gait analysis; Isolated posterior cruciate ligament injury; Point cluster technique; Posterior tibial displacement