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Does cruciate retention primary total knee arthroplasty affect proprioception, strength and clinical outcome?

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

Abstract

Purpose

It remains unclear what the contribution of the PCL is in total knee arthroplasty (TKA). The goal of this study was to investigate the influence of the PCL in TKA in relationship to clinical outcome, strength and proprioception.

Methods

Two arthroplasty designs were compared: a posterior cruciate-substituting (PS) and a posterior cruciate-retaining (CR) TKA. A retrospective analysis was performed of 27 CR and 18 PS implants with a minimum of 1 year in vivo. Both groups were compared in terms of clinical outcome (range of motion, visual analogue scale for pain, Hospital for Special Surgery Knee Scoring system, Lysholm score and Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score), strength (Biodex System 3 Dynamometer®) and proprioception (balance and postural control using the Balance Master system®). Each design was also compared to the non-operated contralateral side in terms of strength and proprioception.

Results

There were no significant differences between both designs in terms of clinical outcome and strength. In terms of proprioception, only the rhythmic weight test at slow and moderate speed shifting from left to right was significant in favour of the CR design. None of the unilateral stance tests showed any significant difference between both designs. There was no difference in terms of strength and proprioception between the operated side and the non-operated side.

Conclusion

Retaining the PCL in TKA does not result in an improved performance in terms of clinical outcome and proprioception and does not show any difference in muscle strength.

Level of evidence

III.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physiotherapy and Orthopaedic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Ghent, De Pintelaan 185, 9000, Ghent, Belgium

    Pieter-Jan T. K. Vandekerckhove, Thomas Tampere & Peter C. Verdonk

  2. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology, AZ Sint-Jan Bruges, Ruddershove 10, 8000, Brugge, Belgium

    Pieter-Jan T. K. Vandekerckhove

  3. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology, Stedelijk Ziekenhuis Roeselare, Brugsesteenweg 90, 8800, Roeselare, Belgium

    Luc Van den Daelen

  4. Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University Hospital Leuven, Weligerveld 1, 3212, Pellenberg, Belgium

    Roel Parys

  5. Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Stedelijk Ziekenhuis Roeselare, Brugsesteenweg 90, 8800, Roeselare, Belgium

    Roel Parys & Patrick Linden

  6. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Monica Hospitals Antwerp, Harmoniestraat 68, 2018, Antwerp, Belgium

    Peter C. Verdonk

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  1. Pieter-Jan T. K. Vandekerckhove
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Correspondence to Pieter-Jan T. K. Vandekerckhove.

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Vandekerckhove, PJ.T.K., Parys, R., Tampere, T. et al. Does cruciate retention primary total knee arthroplasty affect proprioception, strength and clinical outcome?. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 23, 1644–1652 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-014-3384-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-014-3384-8

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