A non-invasive device to objectively measure tibial rotation: verification of the device

  • Olaf Lorbach
  • P. Wilmes
  • S. Maas
  • T. Zerbe
  • L. Busch
  • D. Kohn
  • R. Seil
Knee
First Online:
Received:
Accepted:

Abstract

The purpose of this study was the correlation of the results of a new measurement device for tibial rotation (Rotameter) in comparison with the measurements of a knee navigation system as standard method. In a biomechanical laboratory study, all soft tissues were removed from 20 human cadaveric knees leaving only the intact capsule and the bone. Specific tracers were bicortically fixed in the bone in order to measure tibial rotation using a knee navigation system. The knees were fixed to a custom-made inside-boot to rule out undesirable rotation of the reconstruction inside the Rotameter measurement device. Internal and external rotation values were measured at an applied torque of 5, 10 and 15 Nm. The different methods to evaluate tibial rotation were compared using the Pearson correlation coefficient. The correlations were deemed to be reliable if a value of ≥0.80 was achieved. At 5 Nm of applied torque, high correlations for the internal rotation, external rotation and the entire rotational range were found in the Pearson correlation coefficient between the Rotameter testing device in comparison with the knee navigation system as invasive reference method. These results were also confirmed at an applied torque of 10 and 15 Nm. In conclusion, the Rotameter testing device showed high correlations compared with the knee navigation system as an invasive standard method. It might be used as a non-invasive and easy alternative to investigate tibial rotation.

Keywords

Knee rotation Measurement device Knee navigation Tibial rotation ACL 
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Notes

Acknowledgments

The authors thank Stryker Medical Systems (Duisburg, Germany) for the provision of the knee navigation equipment and Dr. Thomas Georg for the statistical support of the study.

Conflict of interest statement

No potential conflicts of interests are declared.

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Copyright information

© Springer-Verlag 2009

Authors and Affiliations

  • Olaf Lorbach
    • 1
    • 2
  • P. Wilmes
    • 1
    • 2
  • S. Maas
    • 3
  • T. Zerbe
    • 1
  • L. Busch
    • 4
  • D. Kohn
    • 1
  • R. Seil
    • 2
  1. 1.Department of Orthopedic SurgerySaarland UniversityHomburg/SaarGermany
  2. 2.Service de Chirurgie Orthopédique et TraumatologiqueCentre d’Orthopédie et de Médecine du Sport, Centre Hospitalier de Luxembourg, Clinique d’EichLuxembourgLuxembourg
  3. 3.Unité ‘Ingénierie’, Faculté des Sciences, de la Technologie et de la CommunicationUniversité du LuxembourgLuxembourgLuxembourg
  4. 4.Department of AnatomyLübeck UniversityLübeckGermany

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