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Can physical examination predict the intraarticular tear pattern of the anterior cruciate ligament?

  • Arthroscopy and Sports Medicine
  • Published:
Archives of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery Aims and scope Submit manuscript

An Erratum to this article was published on 09 September 2014

Abstract

Purpose

We evaluated the correlation between physical examinations and the tear patterns of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL).

Materials and methods

From January 2003 to May 2007, we reviewed 201 cases of ACL rupture, diagnosed by MRI. Two orthopaedic surgeons (a fellow and a senior surgeon) evaluated the instability of the knee under anaesthesia: physical examinations were the anterior draw test (AD), Lachman test (LT), and pivot shift test (PT). By describing the rupture pattern and the site of the anteromedial (AMB) and posterolateral bundle (PLB) during arthroscopic examination, we analysed the correlation between the physical examination under anaesthesia and arthroscopic findings.

Results

In terms of the arthroscopic findings, rupture of the PLB was seen in 83 cases (41.3 %), of the AMB in 24 cases (11.9 %), and of both bundles in 94 cases (46.8 %). The kappa values for the physical examinations between the examiners were 0.963 (AD), 0.92 (LT), and 0.865 (PT). AD and LT above grade 2 did not differ significantly according to the pattern of rupture, but a PT above grade 2 was significantly different in ruptured PLB versus complete rupture.

Conclusions

A PT of more than grade 2 is a reliable physical examination for prediction of ruptured PLB or complete rupture.

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Conflict of interest

The authors have declared that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, School of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, 1 Hoegi-Dong, Dongdaemoon-Gu, 130-702, Seoul, South Korea

    Kyoung Ho Yoon, Sang Hak Lee, Dong Geun Kang & Kee Yun Chung

  2. Department of Physical Education, Graduate School of Education, Yongin University, Yongin, South Korea

    Soo Yeon Park

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  1. Kyoung Ho Yoon
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  2. Sang Hak Lee
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  3. Soo Yeon Park
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  4. Dong Geun Kang
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Correspondence to Kee Yun Chung.

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Yoon, K.H., Lee, S.H., Park, S.Y. et al. Can physical examination predict the intraarticular tear pattern of the anterior cruciate ligament?. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg 134, 1451–1457 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00402-014-2048-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00402-014-2048-y

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