A New Mechanical Testing Device for Measuring Anteroposterior Knee Laxity

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  • Andreas J. Schuster
    Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Hôpital Cantonal, Fribourg, Switzerland
  • Mike J. Mcnicholas
    Consultant in Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery, Warrington Hospital, Warrington, England
  • Stefan W. Wachtl
    Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Hôpital Cantonal, Fribourg, Switzerland
  • Douglas W. McGurty
    Department of Orthopaedics and Trauma Surgery, University of Dundee, Scotland
  • Roland P. Jakob
    Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Hôpital Cantonal, Fribourg, Switzerland

Description

<jats:sec><jats:title>Background</jats:title><jats:p> The authors assessed a new instrument, the Rolimeter, for the measurement of anteroposterior translation in the knee; it was compared to the KT-1000 arthrometer. </jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Purpose</jats:title><jats:p> To determine if the Rolimeter offers a valid method for the measurement of anteroposterior translation that is as reproducible and reliable as the KT-1000 arthrometer. </jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Methods</jats:title><jats:p> Two of 3 observers examined 16 normal subjects (32 knees) and 36 patients (72 knees) with ligament ruptures twice, using both the Rolimeter and the KT-1000 arthrometers, 30 minutes apart. Total anteroposterior translation (manual maximal Lachman test) was recorded at 20° and 80° of knee flexion. </jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Results</jats:title><jats:p> On average, the Rolimeter measured approximately 1 mm less anteroposterior displacement than the KT-1000 arthrometer at manual maximum stress. Rolimeter measurements were more consistent than the KT-1000 measurements as measured by our observers. Specificity and sensitivity were equivalent between the Rolimeter and the KT-1000 arthrometer. </jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Conclusions</jats:title><jats:p> The Rolimeter is as reproducible and reliable as the KT-1000 arthrometer. It offers a valid method for the measurement of anteroposterior translation in the knee. Higher accuracy was obtained at 20° of flexion for the KT-1000 arthrometer and at 80° of flexion for the Rolimeter. </jats:p></jats:sec>

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