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Knee function after anterior cruciate ligament ruptures treated conservatively

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Summary

Thirty-nine patients with ruptures of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) were treated conservatively and were subsequently examined at an average of 5.7 years after injury, the uninjured leg acting as a control. The Tegner activity score was significantly lower than the desired activity level. No patients were free of symptoms and only two could take part in sport which involved pivoting. The isokinetic knee extensor and flexor torques, as well as the one-leg-hop and instrumented knee joint laxity tests, were significantly impaired at follow-up. Functional impairment was not related to tests of knee joint laxity. Few patients were pleased with their subjective knee function after an ACL rupture despite thorough initial rehabilitation.

Résumé

On a examiné, 5,7 ans en moyenne (de 3 à 13) après le traumatisme, 39 patients de 34 ans d'âge moyen, traités orthopédiquement pour rupture unilatéral du ligament croisé antérieur (LCA). Le membre inférieur opposé a servi de contrôle. Le score d'activité de Tegner était significativement inférieur au niveau d'activité souhaité. Aucun patient n'était asymptomatique et seulement deux sur 39 pouvaient pratiquer des sports nécessitant des mouvements de pivotement. L'instabilité et la douleur étaient les symptômes les plus habituels. Le moment isokinétique de flexion et d'extension, le saut à cloche-pied, ainsi que la laxité du genou testée instrumentalement, étaient significativement altérés du côté blessé, lors de l'examen. La dégradation fonctionnelle n'était pas correlée avec les tests cliniques de laxité du genou. Peu de patients sont subjectivement satisfaits de la fonction de leur genou après rupture du LCA, malgré un programme particulier de réhabilitation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Section of Sports Medicine and Sports Trauma, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Huddinge University Hospital, S-14186, Huddinge, Sweden

    B. Engström, C. Johansson & T. Wredmark

  2. Department of Physiotherapy, Huddinge University Hospital, Sweden

    J. Gornitzka

Authors
  1. B. Engström
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  2. J. Gornitzka
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  3. C. Johansson
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  4. T. Wredmark
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Engström, B., Gornitzka, J., Johansson, C. et al. Knee function after anterior cruciate ligament ruptures treated conservatively. International Orthopaedics 17, 208–213 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00194180

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