Increases in Joint Laxity After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Are Associated With Sagittal Biomechanical Asymmetry

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the longitudinal changes in landing mechanics and knee kinematics for patients both before and 3 years after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) and to investigate the association between changes in landing mechanics and magnetic resonance knee kinematics.

Methods: Thirty-one ACLR patients were included in the study. All patients underwent magnetic resonance imaging and biomechanical analysis of a drop-landing task using the injured knee and contralateral knee preoperatively and at 6 months and 3 years after ACLR. For evaluations of knee joint anteroposterior laxity, tibial position was calculated using quantitative loaded magnetic resonance methods.

Results: The ACLR knee exhibited a significantly lower peak vertical ground reaction force and peak external knee flexion moment and angle at 6 months compared with the contralateral knee; however, the differences were resolved at 3 years. Tibial position was significantly more anterior on the injured side, and the side-to-side difference (SSD) in tibial position exhibited a significant increase from 6 months to 3 years. Among ACLR knees, a greater SSD in peak knee flexion moment at 6 months was associated with an increase in the SSD in anterior tibial translation from 6 months to 3 years.

Conclusions: Although landing mechanics and clinical outcomes recovered in patients with ACLR in this study, anteroposterior translation failed to be restored at 3 years after surgery. In addition, patients who have low knee flexion moments in early stages could have greater anteroposterior laxity.

Clinical relevance: Because of the adverse consequences of abnormal knee kinetics on anterior laxity after ACLR, efforts to improve knee movement patterns should be initiated.