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Does concomitant meniscectomy or meniscal repair affect the recovery of quadriceps function post-ACL reconstruction?

  • Knee
  • Published:
Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy Aims and scope

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of concomitant meniscal surgery on the recovery of quadriceps activation and strength at a time when individuals return to sport following anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction.

Methods

Forty-six individuals that were cleared for participation following ACL reconstruction were invited to participate in this study. Participants were placed into groups according to surgical reports (ACL-only, n = 24; meniscal repair, n = 12; meniscectomy, n = 10). Quadriceps strength was quantified using isokinetic and isometric measures. Isokinetic strength was collected at 60°/s in concentric mode. Isometric strength was collected at 90° of knee flexion. Quadriceps activation was assessed using the burst superimposition technique and quantified via the central activation ratio. One-way ANOVAs were utilized to detect whether differences existed in quadriceps activation and strength between groups. Where appropriate, post hoc Bonferroni multiple comparison procedures were used.

Results

Quadriceps activation (P = n.s.) and strength (isokinetic: P = n.s.; isometric: P = n.s.) were not different between groups.

Conclusion

Concomitant meniscectomy or meniscal repair did not affect the recovery of quadriceps activation and strength at a time when individuals return to sport following ACL reconstruction. Though group differences in quadriceps function were not detected, all participants demonstrated levels of quadriceps activation failure that are below healthy individuals at a time when they were returned to sport. Given that persistent quadriceps activation failure is detrimental to knee function, rehabilitation protocols that target quadriceps activation failure should be developed and employed post-reconstruction.

Level of evidence

III.

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Acknowledgments

Research reported in this publication was supported by the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, part of the National Institutes of Health, under Award Number K08 AR05315201A2 to Dr. Palmieri-Smith. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Kinesiology, University of Michigan, 4745G Central Campus Recreational Building, 401 Washtenaw Ave., Ann Arbor, MI, USA

    Lindsey K. Lepley & Riann M. Palmieri-Smith

  2. Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

    Edward M. Wojtys & Riann M. Palmieri-Smith

  3. Bone and Joint Injury Prevention and Rehabilitation Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA

    Edward M. Wojtys & Riann M. Palmieri-Smith

Authors
  1. Lindsey K. Lepley
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  2. Edward M. Wojtys
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  3. Riann M. Palmieri-Smith
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Correspondence to Riann M. Palmieri-Smith.

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Lepley, L.K., Wojtys, E.M. & Palmieri-Smith, R.M. Does concomitant meniscectomy or meniscal repair affect the recovery of quadriceps function post-ACL reconstruction?. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 23, 2756–2761 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-014-3093-3

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