Quadriceps strength and power recovery following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with quadriceps tendon bone autograft: A 6- and 12-month analysis.

Abstract

The study's purpose was to examine differences between strength and power measures, and correlations between each measure following patients with anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) with quadriceps-tendon bone autograft (QTB) at 6 and 12 months postoperative. Data were taken from an ongoing prospective case series study. Patients with an ACLR with QTB were tested for quadriceps extensor strength and power on an isokinetic dynamometer at speeds of 60° and 180° per second, at 6 and 12 months postoperative. Repeated measures analysis was used to determine if significant differences occurred at two postoperative dates and between nonoperative and operative legs at each time. Correlation analyses were used to identify relationships between measures of strength and power at each time. Strength and power were consistently higher in the nonoperative leg at both 6 and 12 months postoperative. Significant improvements over time were seen in the nonoperative leg for peak torque at 60 and 180 degrees per second, as well as peak torque at 0.18 s. Significant improvements were seen in the operative leg in all measures of strength and power. Correlations of strength to power measurements were largely non-significant and weak. Following ACLR with QTB, patients showed significant gains in quadriceps strength and power from 6 to 12 months postoperative. However, only one moderate negative correlation was identified between strength and operative side torque at 30°. This indicates that these two measures (strength and power) are two separate and independent indicators of the quadriceps muscle's function. Case Series.