Alteration of knee joint moment after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction conditions in subjects with and without meniscal pathology.

Abstract

The effects of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction on postoperative gait biomechanics remain controversial, and the influence of meniscus pathology on pre- and post-ACL reconstruction biomechanical changes has not yet been studied. Here, we aimed to clarify the difference in knee joint moment between pre- and post-ACL reconstruction conditions in subjects with and without meniscal pathology. Twenty-four subjects with unilateral ACL reconstruction injuries participated in this study. A total of 13 of the subjects had concomitant meniscus injuries. Gait analysis was performed preoperatively and at 11 months postoperatively. Three-dimensional knee joint angles and moments were calculated based on motion-capture data. The total joint moment and contribution of individual moments during the stance phase were assessed. For statistical analysis, we compared pre- and postoperative alterations, and differences were assessed in subjects with and without meniscal pathology. Tibial rotation excursion was lower in subjects with meniscal pathology than in those with intact menisci postoperatively. An significant increase in the contribution of the knee flexion moment and a significant decrease in the contribution of the knee adduction moment postoperatively were observed in subjects with intact menisci. Patients with ACL injury showed different postoperative alterations in joint moments depending on the concomitant meniscal injury.