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Landing adaptations following isolated lateral meniscectomy in athletes

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

Abstract

Purpose

Objective functional outcomes following isolated radial lateral meniscus tears in the athlete between the ages of 14–25 are not clearly defined. The objective of this study was to determine whether patients following lateral meniscectomy demonstrate lower extremity asymmetries relative to control athletes 3 months after surgery. We hypothesized that following lateral meniscectomy, athletes aged 14–25 years old would demonstrate altered landing biomechanics compared to sex, age, height, weight, and sport-matched controls.

Methods

A total of 18 subjects were included in this study. Nine patients (7 men and 2 women, 20.1 ± 2.8 years) who had undergone first-time isolated radial lateral meniscus tears were tested 3 months following partial lateral meniscectomies and compared to nine sex, age, height, weight, and sport-matched controls (7 men and 2 women, 19.7 ± 3.1 years). A ten-camera motion analysis system and two force platforms were used to collect three trials of bilateral drop landings. A 2X2 ANOVA was used to test the interaction between side (involved vs. uninvolved) and group (patient vs. control).

Results

The patient group landed with a decreased internal knee extensor moment compared to the uninvolved side and controls (interaction P < 0.05). The involved limb quadriceps isokinetic torque was not decreased compared to the contralateral or control (n.s.). Decreased knee extensor moments were significantly associated with reduced measures of function (IKDC scores: r = 0.69; P < 0.05).

Conclusions

Athletes who return to sport at approximately 3 months following a partial lateral meniscectomy may employ compensation strategies during landing as evidenced by reduced quadriceps recruitment and functional outcome scores. Clinicians should focus on improving quadriceps function during landing on the involved leg in an attempt to decrease residual limb asymmetries.

Level of evidence

Case–control study, Level III.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge funding support from The University Orthopaedic Research and Education Foundation, University of Cincinnati department of Orthopaedic Surgery and National Institutes of Health/NIAMS Grants R01-AR049735, R01-AR05563 and R01-AR056259.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center Sports Medicine Biodynamics Center and Human Performance Laboratory, 3333 Burnet Avenue, MLC 10001, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA

    Kevin R. Ford, Stephen J. Minning, Gregory D. Myer & Timothy E. Hewett

  2. Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA

    Kevin R. Ford, Gregory D. Myer & Timothy E. Hewett

  3. A Division of Select Medical Corporation, NovaCare Rehabilitation/University of Cincinnati Sports Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA

    Stephen J. Minning & Robert E. Mangine

  4. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA

    Angelo J. Colosimo & Timothy E. Hewett

  5. Departments of Biomedical Engineering and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA

    Timothy E. Hewett

  6. Departments of Physiology and Cell Biology, Orthopaedic Surgery, Family Medicine and Biomedical Engineering, Ohio State University Sports Medicine, Columbus, OH, USA

    Gregory D. Myer & Timothy E. Hewett

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  1. Kevin R. Ford
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  2. Stephen J. Minning
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  3. Gregory D. Myer
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  6. Timothy E. Hewett
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Correspondence to Kevin R. Ford.

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Ford, K.R., Minning, S.J., Myer, G.D. et al. Landing adaptations following isolated lateral meniscectomy in athletes. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 19, 1716–1721 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-011-1490-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-011-1490-4

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