Abstract
Purpose
The present article summarizes the development of a simple, objective, and non-invasive measurement device for tibiofemoral rotation to assess static rotational knee laxity.
Methods and results
The device is based on the dial test with the patient lying prone and the knee flexed to 30°. From measurements of 30 healthy participants, the device achieved high inter- and intra-observer reliability and showed a high correlation of the measured results with the contralateral knees of the participants. Measurements of the device were also performed in a human cadaver study and revealed highly correlated results when compared to the simultaneous measurements of a knee navigation system, which was used as an invasive standard method to assess tibial rotation. In human cadaver specimens, it was shown that a simulated tear of the posterolateral bundle as well as a complete ACL tear led to a significant increase in isolated tibiofemoral rotation compared to the intact ACL. A retrospective case series investigated the clinical results as well as knee laxity measurements after ACL surgery in vivo. Rotational, as well as anteroposterior (AP), knee laxity was objectively assessed in 52 patients at a mean postoperative follow-up of 27 months by comparing the measured results with the results of the contralateral unaffected knee in each patient. The clinical results were comparable to the results reported in the literature. Moreover, rotational laxity was successfully restored after ACL reconstruction, whereas AP laxity showed significant differences compared to the contralateral knees although they were defined as clinically successful according to the IKDC classification.
Conclusions
A non-invasive and objective knee rotational measurement device has been developed, which offers good potential for objective quality control in knee ligament injuries and their treatment.
Level of evidence
Review article, Level IV.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Almquist PO, Arnbjörnsson A, Zätterström R, Ryd L, Ekdahl C, Fridén T (2002) Evaluation of an external device measuring knee joint rotation: an in vivo study with simultaneous Roentgen stereometric analysis. J Orthop Res 2002(20):427–432
Andersen HN, Dyhre-Poulsen P (1997) The anterior cruciate ligament does play a role in controlling axial rotation in the knee. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 5:145–149
Beighton P, Solomon L, Soskolne CL (1973) Articular mobility in an African population. Ann Rheum Dis 32:413–418
Bignozzi S, Zaffagnini S, Lopomo N, Fu FH, Irrgang JJ, Marcacci M (2010) Clinical relevance of static and dynamic tests after anatomical double-bundle ACL reconstruction. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 18:37–42
Boyer P, Djian P, Christel P, Paoletti X, Degeorges R (2004) Reliability of the KT-1000 arthrometer (Medmetric) for measuring anterior knee laxity: comparison with Telos in 147 knees. Rev Chir Orthop Reparatrice Appar Mot 90:757–764
Colombet P, Robinson J, Christel P, Franceschi JP, Djian P (2007) Using navigation to measure rotation kinematics during ACL reconstruction. Clin Orthop Relat Res 454:59–65
Daniel DM, Malcom LL, Losse G, Stone ML, Sachs R, Burks R (1985) Instrumented measurement of anterior laxity of the knee. J Bone Joint Surg Am 67:720–726
Daniel DM, Stone ML, Dobson BE, Fithian DC, Rossman DJ, Kaufman KR (1994) Fate of the ACL-injured patient. A prospective outcome study. Am J Sports Med 22:632–644
Forster IW, Warren-Smith CD, Tew M (1989) Is the KT 1000 knee ligament arthrometer reliable? J Bone Joint Surg Br 71:843–847
Georgoulis AD, Ristanis S, Chouliaras V, Moraiti C, Stergiou N (2007) Tibial rotation is not restored after ACL reconstruction with a hamstring graft. Clin Orthop Relat Res 454:89–94
Hoshino Y, Kuroda R, Nagamune K, Araki D, Kubo S, Yamaguchi M, Kurosaka M (2011) Optimal measurement of clinical rotational test for evaluating anterior cruciate ligament insufficiency. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. doi:10.1007/s00167-011-1643-5
Järvelä T (2007) Double-bundle versus single-bundle anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: a prospective, randomize clinical study. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 15:500–507
Jonsson H, Riklund-Ahlstrom K, Lind J (2004) Positive pivot shift after ACL reconstruction predicts later osteoarthrosis: 63 patients followed 5–9 years after surgery. Acta Orthop Scand 75:594–599
Lane JG, Irby SE, Kaufman K, Rangger C, Daniel DM (1994) The anterior cruciate ligament in controlling axial rotation. An evaluation of its effect. Am J Sports Med 22:289–293
Lorbach O, Pape D, Maas S, Zerbe T, Kohn D, Busch L, Seil R (2010) The Influence of the anteromedial and posterolateral bundles of the anterior cruciate ligament on external and internal tibiofemoral rotation. Am J Sports Med 38:721–727
Lorbach O, Kieb M, Brogard P, Maas S, Pape D, Seil R (2011) Static rotational and sagittal knee laxity measurements after reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. doi:10/1007/s00167-011-1635-5
Lorbach O, Wilmes P, Maas S, Zerbe T, Busch L, Kohn D, Seil R (2009) A non-invasive device to objectively measure tibial rotation: verification of the device. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 17:756–762
Lorbach O, Wilmes P, Theisen D, Brockmeyer M, Maas S, Kohn D, Seil R (2009) Reliability testing of a new device to measure tibial rotation. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 17:920–926
Muneta T, Koga H, Mochizuki T, Ju YJ, Hara K, Nimura A, Yagishita K, Sekiya I (2007) A prospective randomized study of 4-strand semitendinosus tendon anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction comparing single-bundle and double-bundle techniques. Arthroscopy 23:618–628
Musahl V, Bell KM, Tsai AG, Costic RS, Allaire R, Zantop T, Irrgang JJ, Fu FH (2007) Development of a simple device for measurement of rotational knee laxity. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 15:1009–1012
Noyes FR, Grood ES, Cummings JF, Wroble RR (1991) An analysis of the pivot shift phenomenon. The knee motions and subluxations induced by different examiners. Am J Sports Med 19:148–155
Robert H, Nouveau S, Gageot S, Gagniere B (2009) A new knee arthrometer, the GNRB: experience in ACL complete and partial tears. Orthop Traumatol Surg Res 95:171–176
Schuster AJ, McNicholas MJ, Wachtl SW, McGurty DW, Jakob RW (2004) A new mechanical testing device for measuring anteroposterior knee laxity. Am J Sports Med 32:1731–1735
Shoemaker SC, Markolf KL (1982) In vivo rotatory knee stability. Ligamentous and muscular contributions. J Bone Joint Surg Am 64:208–216
Shultz SJ, Shimokochi Y, Nguyen AD, Schmitz RJ, Beynnon BD, Perrin DH (2007) Measurement of varus-valgus and internal-external rotational knee laxities in vivo—part I: assessment of measurement reliability and bilateral asymmetry. J Orthop Res 25:981–988
Steckel H, Murtha PE, Costic RS, Moody JE, Jaramaz B, Fu FH (2007) Computer evaluation of kinematics of anterior cruciate ligament reconstructions. Clin Orthop Relat Res 463:37–42
Tashman S, Collon D, Anderson K, Kolowich P, Anderst W (2004) Abnormal rotational knee motion during running after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Am J Sports Med 32:975–983
Woo SL, Kanamori A, Zeminski J, Yagi M, Papageorgiou C, Fu FH (2002) The effectiveness of reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament with hamstrings and patellar tendon. A cadaveric study comparing anterior tibial and rotational loads. J Bone Joint Surg Am 84:907–914
Yagi M, Kuroda R, Nagamune K, Yoshiya S, Kurosaka M (2007) Double-bundle ACL reconstruction can improve rotational stability. Clin Orthop Relat Res 454:100–107
Zarins B, Rowe CR, Harris BA, Watkins MP (1983) Rotational motion of the knee. Am J Sports Med 11:152–156
Conflict of interest
None.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Lorbach, O., Brockmeyer, M., Kieb, M. et al. Objective measurement devices to assess static rotational knee laxity: focus on the Rotameter. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 20, 639–644 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-011-1876-3
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-011-1876-3