Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Proprioception following partial meniscectomy in stable knees

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

Abstract

Purpose

To investigate the proprioceptive function of patients with isolated meniscal tears of the knee before and after arthroscopic partial meniscectomy.

Methods

One hundred subjects (50 patients who underwent a knee arthroscopy and 50 normal controls) were evaluated using single-leg dynamic postural stabilometry. All participants were assessed clinically and radiologically. Knee outcome scores were obtained for all subjects.

Results

Of the 50 patients arthroscoped, 34 were found to have meniscal tears. Twenty-nine of these patients were reassessed 3 months post-operatively. There was a significant proprioceptive deficit in subjects with meniscal tears when compared to their normal contra-lateral knee (P < 0.001) and the control group (P < 0.001). Partial meniscectomy resulted in a significant improvement in knee outcome scores but not proprioception measurements (n.s.).

Conclusion

Patients with isolated meniscal tears were found to have a significant proprioceptive deficit which persisted following arthroscopic partial meniscectomy despite an otherwise successful clinical outcome.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Aagaard H, Verdonk R (1999) Function of the normal meniscus and consequences of meniscal resection. Scand J Med Sci Sports 9:134–140

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Arnold BL, Schmitz RJ (1998) Examination of balance measures produced by the biodex stability system. J Athl Train 33:323–327

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Barrett DS (1991) Proprioception and function after anterior cruciate reconstruction. J Bone Joint Surg Br 73:833–837

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Beard DJ, Kyberd PJ, Fergusson CM, Dodd CA (1993) Proprioception after rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament. An objective indication of the need for surgery? J Bone Joint Surg Br 75:311–315

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Bedi A, Kelly NH, Baad M et al (2010) Dynamic contact mechanics of the medial meniscus as a function of radial tear, repair, and partial meniscectomy. J Bone Joint Surg Am 92:1398–1408

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Bentley G, Biant LC, Carrington RW et al (2003) A prospective, randomised comparison of autologous chondrocyte implantation versus mosaicplasty for osteochondral defects in the knee. J Bone Joint Surg Br 85:223–230

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Beynnon BD, Ryder SH, Konradsen L et al (1999) The effect of anterior cruciate ligament trauma and bracing on knee proprioception. Am J Sports Med 27:150–155

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Brindle T, Nyland J, Johnson DL (2001) The meniscus: review of basic principles with application to surgery and rehabilitation. J Athl Train 36:160–169

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Bulgheroni P, Bulgheroni MV, Ronga M, Manelli A (2007) Gait analysis of pre- and post-meniscectomy knee: a prospective study. Knee 14:472–477

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Cameron ML, Briggs KK, Steadman JR (2003) Reproducibility and reliability of the outerbridge classification for grading chondral lesions of the knee arthroscopically. Am J Sports Med 31:83–86

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Fremerey RW, Lobenhoffer P, Zeichen J et al (2000) Proprioception after rehabilitation and reconstruction in knees with deficiency of the anterior cruciate ligament: a prospective, longitudinal study. J Bone Joint Surg Br 82:801–806

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Fritz JM, Irrgang JJ, Harner CD (1996) Rehabilitation following allograft meniscal transplantation: a review of the literature and case study. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 24:98–106

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Glatthorn JF, Berendts AM, Bizzini M, Munzinger U, Maffiuletti NA (2010) Neuromuscular function after arthroscopic partial meniscectomy. Clin Orthop Relat Res 468:1336–1343

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Gray JC (1999) Neural and vascular anatomy of the menisci of the human knee. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 29:23–30

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Hewett TE, Paterno MV, Myer GD (2002) Strategies for enhancing proprioception and neuromuscular control of the knee. Clin Orthop Relat Res 402:76–94

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Irrgang JJ, Anderson AF, Boland AL et al (2001) Development and validation of the international knee documentation committee subjective knee form. Am J Sports Med 29:600–613

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Iwasa J, Ochi M, Adachi N et al (2000) Proprioceptive improvement in knees with anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Clin Orthop Relat Res 381:168–176

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Jerosch J, Prymka M, Castro WH (1996) Proprioception of knee joints with a lesion of the medial meniscus. Acta Orthop Belg 62:41–45

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Karahan M, Kocaoglu B, Cabukoglu C, Akgun U, Nuran R (2010) Effect of partial medial meniscectomy on the proprioceptive function of the knee. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg 130:427–431

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Lephart SM, Pincivero DM, Rozzi SL (1998) Proprioception of the ankle and knee. Sports Med 25:149–155

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. McDermott ID, Amis AA (2006) The consequences of meniscectomy. J Bone Joint Surg Br 88:1549–1556

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Noyes FR, Barber SD, Mangine RE (1990) Bone-patellar ligament-bone and fascia lata allografts for reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament. J Bone Joint Surg Am 72:1125–1136

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Noyes FR, Barber SD, Mooar LA (1989) A rationale for assessing sports activity levels and limitations in knee disorders. Clin Orthop Relat Res 246:238–249

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Outerbridge RE (1961) The etiology of chondromalacia patellae. J Bone Joint Surg Br 43-B:752–757

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Outerbridge RE, Dunlop JA (1975) The problem of chondromalacia patellae. Clin Orthop Relat Res 110:177–196

    Google Scholar 

  26. Palm HG, Laufer C, von Lubken F, Achatz G, Friemert B (2010) Do meniscus injuries affect postural stability? Orthopade 39:486–494

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Pincivero DM, Lephart SM, Henry T (1995) Learning effects and reliability of the biodex stability system. J Athl Train 30:S35

    Google Scholar 

  28. Reider B, Arcand MA, Diehl LH et al (2003) Proprioception of the knee before and after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Arthroscopy 19:2–12

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Rozzi SL, Lephart SM, Gear WS, Fu FH (1999) Knee joint laxity and neuromuscular characteristics of male and female soccer and basketball players. Am J Sports Med 27:312–319

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Schmitz R, Arnold B (1998) Intertester and intratester reliability of a dynamic balance protocol using the biodex stability system. J Sport Rehabil 7:95–101

    Google Scholar 

  31. Spindler KP, Warren TA, Callison JC Jr et al (2005) Clinical outcome at a minimum of five years after reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament. J Bone Joint Surg Am 87:1673–1679

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Tegner Y, Lysholm J (1985) Rating systems in the evaluation of knee ligament injuries. Clin Orthop Relat Res 198:43–49

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Thijs Y, Witvrouw E, Evens B et al (2007) A prospective study on knee proprioception after meniscal allograft transplantation. Scand J Med Sci Sports 17:223–229

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Trauma and Orthopaedics, Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, Colney Lane, Norwich, NR4 7UY, UK

    O. Al-Dadah & S. T. Donell

  2. Faculty of Health, University of East Anglia, Earlham Road, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, UK

    L. Shepstone & S. T. Donell

Authors
  1. O. Al-Dadah
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. L. Shepstone
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. S. T. Donell
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to O. Al-Dadah.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Al-Dadah, O., Shepstone, L. & Donell, S.T. Proprioception following partial meniscectomy in stable knees. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 19, 207–213 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-010-1237-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-010-1237-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation