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The knee adduction moment in hamstring and patellar tendon anterior cruciate ligament reconstructed knees

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

Abstract

Purpose

The external knee adduction moment during gait has previously been associated with knee osteoarthritis, and although it has been shown to be greater following anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction surgery compared to a control group, it has not been compared between different graft types. Given that the incidence of radiographic knee osteoarthritis appears to be greater following patellar tendon compared to hamstring tendon ACL reconstruction, this study tested the hypothesis that the knee adduction moment would also be increased following patellar tendon ACL reconstruction.

Methods

In 48 male participants (16 patellar tendon graft, 16 hamstring graft and 16 controls), the external knee adduction moment was measured during level walking in a gait laboratory at mean of 10 months after surgery.

Results

There was no difference in the knee adduction moment between the hamstring and patellar tendon groups, and both patient groups had a significantly reduced knee adduction moment compared to the control group. In the hamstring group, the smaller adduction moment was associated with the patients walking with less knee varus whereas in the patellar tendon group, the smaller moment was associated with the patients walking with a decreased vertical ground reaction force.

Conclusions

These results indicate that in male patients during the early stages of recovery from ACL reconstruction, the knee adduction moment is not greater than controls for either hamstring or patellar tendon graft types. Although the knee adduction moment was similar between the two graft types, the overall magnitude of the moment was influenced by different biomechanical factors.

Level of evidence

III.

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Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge the contributions of Rafael Gonzalez-Adrio, Christian Kinmont, Rebecca Payne, Jason O’Brien and Joanne Wittwer who assisted with data collection.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Musculoskeletal Research Centre, Faculty of Health Sciences, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, 3086, Australia

    Kate E. Webster & Julian A. Feller

  2. Epworth HealthCare, Melbourne, VIC, Australia

    Julian A. Feller

Authors
  1. Kate E. Webster
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  2. Julian A. Feller
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kate E. Webster.

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Webster, K.E., Feller, J.A. The knee adduction moment in hamstring and patellar tendon anterior cruciate ligament reconstructed knees. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 20, 2214–2219 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-011-1835-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-011-1835-z

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