Knee Surg Relat Res.  2019 Dec;31(4):e14. 10.1186/s43019-019-0014-2.

Anterior tibial displacement on preoperative stress radiography of ACL-injured knee depending on knee flexion angle

• Noh JH
• Nam WD
• Roh YH

• KMID: 2469777
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1186/s43019-019-0014-2

Abstract

PURPOSE
To compare side-to-side difference (SSD) of anterior tibial translation in instrumented stress radiography for each series of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL)-injured subjects according to knee flexion angle.
METHODS
Forty subjects who were suspected of having significant ACL injury by manual Lachman test and MRI were recruited for this prospective study. These subjects took stress radiographs for both knees with corresponding knee flexion of 10° (series M1) and 30° (series M2) using Telos stress device. Mean SSDs of M1 and M2 were compared. Sensitivities of M1 and M2 were assessed using the SSD ≥3mm or ≥5mm as a cutoff value.
RESULTS
Mean SSDs in series M1 and M2 were 4.22 ± 3.72mm and 3.25 ± 3.30 mm, respectively (p < 0.001). When 3 mm of SSD was used as a cutoff value, sensitivities of series M1 and M2 were 47.5% (19/40) and 32.5% (13/40), respectively (p = 0.171). When 5mm of SSD was used as a cutoff value, sensitivities of series M1 and M2 were 45.0% (18/40) and 22.5% (9/40), respectively (p = 0.033).
CONCLUSIONS
Anterior tibial translation on stress radiographs using a Telos device is more prominent when knee flexion angle is 10° compared to that when knee flexion angle is 30°. However, stress radiography using Telos device, either at 10° or 30° of knee flexion, might not be suitable to make decision on surgical treatment due to relatively low sensitivities.

Keyword

Anterior cruciate ligament; Instability; Side-to-side difference; Telos

MeSH Terms

Anterior Cruciate Ligament
Knee*
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Prospective Studies
Radiography*
Silver Sulfadiazine
Silver Sulfadiazine