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Dynamic and static tibial translation in patients with anterior cruciate ligament deficiency initially treated with a structured rehabilitation protocol

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

Abstract

Purpose

To compare dynamic and static tibial translation, in patients with anterior cruciate ligament deficiency, at 2- to 5-year follow-up, with the tibial translation after 4 months of rehabilitation initiated early after the injury. Secondarily, to compare tibial translation in the injured knee and non-injured knee and explore correlations between dynamic and static tibial translation.

Methods

Twelve patients with ACL rupture were assessed at 3–8 weeks after ACL injury, after 4 months of structured rehabilitation, and 2–5 years after ACL injury. Sagittal tibial translation was measured during the Lachman test (static translation) and during gait (dynamic translation) using a CA-4000 electrogoniometer.

Results

Static tibial translation was increased bilateral 2–5 years after ACL injury, whereas the dynamic tibial translation was unchanged. Tibial translation was greater in the injured knee compared with the non-injured knee (Lachman test 134 N 9.1 ± 1.0 vs. 7.0 ± 1.7 mm, P = 0.001, gait 5.6 ± 2.1 vs. 4.7 ± 1.8 mm, P = 0.011). There were no correlations between dynamic and static tibial translation.

Conclusion

Dynamic tibial translation was unchanged in spite of increased static tibial translation in the ACL-deficient knee at 2- to 5-year follow-up compared to directly after rehabilitation. Dynamic tibial translation did not correlate with the static tibial translation. A more normal gait kinematics may be maintained from completion of a rehabilitation programme to mid-term follow-up in patients with ACL deficiency treated with rehabilitation only.

Level of evidence

IV.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank the Orthopedic Department at the University Hospital, Linköping, for cooperation, physiotherapists Eleonore Rapp and Daniel Urberg for assistance in data collection, and Dr. Clare Ardern, School of Allied Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia, and Division of Physiotherapy, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden, for valuable comments on the manuscript. This study was supported by the Faculty of Health Sciences at Linköping University and by grants from the Swedish Centre for Research in Sports.

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  1. Division of Physiotherapy, Department of Medical and Health Sciences, Linköping University, SE-581 83, Linköping, Sweden

    Sofi Sonesson & Joanna Kvist

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  1. Sofi Sonesson
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  2. Joanna Kvist
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Correspondence to Sofi Sonesson.

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The authors declare that they do not have any financial or personal relationships with other people or organizations that could inappropriate influence (bias) this work.

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Sonesson, S., Kvist, J. Dynamic and static tibial translation in patients with anterior cruciate ligament deficiency initially treated with a structured rehabilitation protocol. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 25, 2337–2346 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-015-3714-5

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