A simple outpatient test for proprioception in the anterior cruciate ligament-deficient knee.

Abstract

Proprioception was quantified in 32 patients who had an arthroscopically documented complete anterior cruciate ligament tear using a simple single-limb standing test. An age-matched control group underwent identical testing. Control subjects demonstrated identical values between their two limbs, with the mean variation being 4.8%. The test group, however, showed significantly higher mean values for the injured compared with the noninjured limb, the mean variation being 43.8%. Patients who have a complete tear of the anterior cruciate ligament may experience a decline in proprioceptive function of their knees. This can be tested clinically using a simple single-limb standing test in an outpatient setting.