Kinematics of anterior cruciate ligament-deficient knees in a Chinese population during stair ascent

Abstract

BackgroundThe purpose of this study was to measure the tibiofemoral kinematics of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) deficiency in a Chinese population and compare the kinematics with published data about a Caucasian population.MethodsUnilateral knees of 18 Chinese ACL-deficient (ACL-D) subjects were studied while subjects ascended stairs. Kinematic alteration was compared between ACL-D knees and contralateral ACL-intact (ACL-I) knees. The kinematic alteration of ACL deficiency was also compared between the Chinese population and published data about a Caucasian population.ResultsA statistical difference was found in the three-dimensional rotations between ACL-D and ACL-I knees. In the sagittal plane, ACL-I knees had a larger flexion angle than ACL-D knees during 40 to 50 % of the activity during stair ascent (P < 0.027) and throughout the gait cycle. A significant difference in rotational motion between ACL-D and ACL-I knees was also observed in the frontal plane during 40 to 60 % (P < 0.017) of the activity and in the transverse plane during 70 to 80 % (P < 0.028) of the activity. A greater tibial varus was demonstrated in the Chinese population while the published data revealed external tibial rotation and a statistical difference in translation in the Caucasian population.ConclusionsACL-D knees show different kinematics than ACL-I knees in the Chinese population. ACL-I knees had a larger flexion angle than ACL-D knees in the middle stage of the activity during stair ascent. A significant difference in rotational motion between ACL-D and ACL-I knees was also observed in the frontal plane during the middle phase and in the transverse plane during the terminal phase of the activity. A greater tibial varus was demonstrated in the Caucasian population while the published data revealed external tibial rotation and a statistical difference in translation in the Caucasian population.

Knee Joint Biomechanics in Physiological Conditions and How Pathologies Can Affect It: A Systematic Review

“…The biomechanical effects of ACL were shown in Table 13. In the knee kinematics aspect, Zhao et al [90] reported that the knee ROM was lower for ACL-injured patients in stair climbing. Slater et al [91] pointed out that the peak knee flexion angle was smaller and the peak knee adduction angle was greater for the ACL injury patients in walking.…”

Gait Analysis 1 Year after Primary TKA: No Difference between Gap Balancing and Measured Resection Technique

“…Another limitation of the study is the lack of information about TKA stability. The protocol did not include neither challenging tasks for knee stability, such as stairs climbing, 32,33 nor a measure to detect knee instability, such as anteroposterior displacement of the knee, during gait as it might be now assessed by the KneeKG system. [34][35][36][37] Another weakness is the lack of assessment of the quadriceps muscle strength that plays an important role in the recovery of gait function.…”