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Biomechanical comparison of rotational activities between anterior cruciate ligament- and posterior cruciate ligament-reconstructed patients

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

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to compare the early functional recovery using biomechanical properties between anterior cruciate ligament (ACL)- and posterior cruciate ligament (PCL)-reconstructed patients and to determine the biomechanical deficit of PCL-reconstructed patients compared to ACL-reconstructed patients.

Methods

A motion analysis system was used to measure and calculate kinematic and kinetic data for 10 patients who underwent PCL-reconstructed patients [experimental group (group 1)], 10 ACL-reconstructed patients (group 2), and 10 healthy subjects (group 3) during 45°, 90°, 135°, and 180° cutting and turn running tasks. Groups 1 and 2 were assessed at 3 (return to daily activity) and 6 months (return to light sports) postoperatively.

Results

At 3 months postoperatively, compared to groups 2 and 3, group 1 showed a decrease in knee flexion angle, extension moment, valgus moment, external rotational moment, ground reaction force, and increased hamstring–quadriceps ratio. At 6 months postoperatively, results from group 1 resembled those of groups 2 and 3 over time.

Conclusions

Patients who underwent PCL reconstruction showed some biomechanical deficits in performance of activities requiring rotation, compared to those who underwent ACL reconstruction. Therefore, the modification of a rehabilitation programme for patients who underwent PCL reconstruction would be necessary for improvement of the biomechanical properties during performance of dynamic activities.

Level of evidence

Case–control study, Level III.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea Grant funded by the Korean Government (2012000971).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Physical Educational LAB of Chungang University and Department of Physical Education, Chungang University, Seoul, South Korea

    Bee Oh Lim

  2. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Bundang Hospital, 166 Gumi-ro, Bundang-gu, Songnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, 463-707, South Korea

    Han Sol Shin & Yong Seuk Lee

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  1. Bee Oh Lim
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Correspondence to Yong Seuk Lee.

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Lim, B.O., Shin, H.S. & Lee, Y.S. Biomechanical comparison of rotational activities between anterior cruciate ligament- and posterior cruciate ligament-reconstructed patients. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 23, 1231–1238 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-014-2959-8

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