Comparing in vivo kinematics of anterior cruciate-retaining and posterior cruciate-retaining total knee arthroplasty

Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2007 Jan;15(1):93-9. doi: 10.1007/s00167-006-0134-6. Epub 2006 Jun 21.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to compare knee kinematics in patients with bi-cruciate preserving total knee arthroplasty and posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) preserving total knee arthroplasty. Five knees received PCL-retaining arthroplasty and nine knees received both cruciate-retaining arthroplasty (ACL/PCL knees). We studied treadmill gait, stair stepping, and maximum flexion activities using lateral fluoroscopy and shape matching. For maximum flexion, the ACL/PCL knees showed 6 mm more posterior translation of the lateral condyle (p < 0.05). For the stair activity, posterior translations of the lateral condyle were significantly greater in the ACL/PCL knees from 30 degrees to 70 degrees flexion (p < 0.05). Both condyles in the ACL/PCL knees showed greater posterior translation in the stance and swing phases of gait than in the PCL knees (p < 0.05). Preserving both cruciate ligaments in total knee arthroplasty appears to maintain some basic features of normal knee kinematics in these activities.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Anterior Cruciate Ligament / physiology*
  • Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee / methods*
  • Biomechanical Phenomena
  • Fluoroscopy
  • Gait / physiology
  • Humans
  • Imaging, Three-Dimensional
  • Knee Joint / diagnostic imaging
  • Knee Joint / physiology*
  • Knee Joint / surgery
  • Movement / physiology
  • Posterior Cruciate Ligament / physiology*
  • Range of Motion, Articular / physiology