In vivo kinematics and ligamentous function of the knee during weight-bearing flexion: an investigation on mid-range flexion of the knee.

PURPOSE: To investigate the in vivo femoral condyle motion and synergistic function of the ACL/PCL along the weight-bearing knee flexion. METHODS: Twenty-two healthy human knees were imaged using a combined MRI and dual fluoroscopic imaging technique during a single-legged lunge (0°-120°). The medial and lateral femoral condyle translation and rotation (measured using geometric center axis-GCA), and the length changes of the ACL/PCL were analyzed at: low (0°-30°), mid-range (30°-90°) and high (90°-120°) flexion of the knee. RESULTS: At low flexion (0°-30°), the strains of the ACL and the posterior-medial bundle of the PCL decreased. The medial condyle showed anterior translation and lateral condyle posterior translation, accompanied with a sharp increase in external GCA rotation (internal tibial rotation). As the knee continued flexion in mid-range (30°-90°), both ACL and PCL were slack (with negative strain values). The medial condyle moved anteriorly before 60° of flexion and then posteriorly, accompanied with a slow increase of GCA rotation. As the knee flexed in high flexion (90°-120°), only the PCL had increasingly strains. Both medial and lateral condyles moved posteriorly with a rather constant GCA rotation. CONCLUSIONS: The ACL and PCL were shown to play a reciprocal and synergistic role during knee flexion. Mid-range reciprocal anterior-posterior femoral translation or laxity corresponds to minimal constraints of the ACL and PCL, and may represent a natural motion character of normal knees. The data could be used as a valuable reference when managing the mid-range "instability" and enhancing high flexion capability of the knee after TKAs. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV.

New design total knee arthroplasty shows medial pivoting movement under weight-bearing conditions.

PURPOSE: To assess, using model-based dynamic radiostereometric analysis (RSA), the biomechanical behaviour of a new design posterior-stabilized (PS) fixed-bearing (FB) total knee arthroplasty (TKA) in vivo while patients performing two common motor tasks. The hypothesis was that model-based dynamic RSA is able to detect different behaviour of the implant under weight-bearing and non-weight-bearing conditions. METHODS: A cohort of 15 non-consecutive patients was evaluated by dynamic RSA 9 months after TKA implantation. The mean age of patients was 73.4 (65-72) years. The kinematic evaluations were performed using an RSA device (BI-STAND DRX 2) developed in our Institute. The patients were asked to perform two active motor tasks: sit-to-stand in weight-bearing condition; range of motion (ROM) while sitting on the chair. The motion parameters were evaluated using the Grood and Suntay decomposition and the low-point kinematics methods. RESULTS: The dynamic RSA evaluation showed a significant difference (p < 0.05) between the biomechanical behaviour of the prosthesis during the two motor tasks. When subjected to the patient weight (in the sit-to-stand) the low point of the medial compartment had a shorter motion (5.7 ± 0.2 mm) than the lateral (11.0 ± 0.2 mm). This realizes a medial pivot motion as in the normal knee. In the ROM task, where the patient had no weight on the prosthesis, this difference was not present: the medial compartment had a displacement of 12.7 ± 0.2 mm, while the lateral had 17.3 ± 0.2 mm. CONCLUSIONS: Model-based RSA proved to be an effective tool for the evaluation of TKA biomechanics. In particular, it was able to determine that the fixed-bearing posterior-stabilized TKA design evaluated in this study showed a medial pivoting movement under weight-bearing conditions that was not present when load was not applied. Under loading conditions what drives the pattern of movement is the prosthetic design itself. By the systematic use of this study protocol future comparisons among different implants could be performed, thus contributing significantly to the improvement of TKA design. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV.

In vivo posterior cruciate ligament elongation in running activity after anatomic and non-anatomic anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

PURPOSE: The goals of this study were to (1) investigate the in vivo elongation behaviour of the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) during running in the uninjured knee and (2) evaluate changes in PCL elongation during running after anatomic or non-anatomic anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. METHODS: Seventeen unilateral ACL-injured subjects were recruited after undergoing anatomic (n = 9) or non-anatomic (n = 8) ACL reconstruction. Bilateral high-resolution CT scans were obtained to produce 3D models. Anterolateral (AL) and posteromedial (PM) bundles insertion sites of the PCL were identified on the 3D CT scan reconstructions. Dynamic knee function was assessed during running using a dynamic stereo X-ray (DSX) system. The lengths of the AL and PM bundles were estimated from late swing through mid-stance. The contralateral knees served as normal controls. RESULTS: Control knees demonstrated a slight decrease in AL bundle and a significant decrease in PM bundle length following foot strike. Length and elongation patterns of the both bundles of the PCL in the anatomic ACL reconstruction group were similar to the controls. However, the change in dynamic PCL length was significantly greater in the non-anatomic group than in the anatomic reconstruction group after foot strike (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The AL bundle length decreased slightly, and the PM bundle length significantly decreased after foot strike during running in uninjured knees. Anatomic ACL reconstruction maintained normal PCL elongation patterns more effectively than non-anatomic ACL reconstruction during high-demand, functional loading. These results support the use of anatomic ACL reconstruction to achieve normal knee function in high-demand activities. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Case-control study, Level III.

In Vivo Kinematics of the Anterior Cruciate Ligament Deficient Knee During Wide-Based Squat Using a 2D/3D Registration Technique.

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) deficiency increases the risk of early osteoarthritis (OA). Studies of ACL deficient knee kinematics would be important to reveal the disease process and therefore to find mechanisms which would potentially slow OA progression. The purpose of this study was to determine if in vivo kinematics of the anterior cruciate ligament deficient (ACLD) knee during a wide-based squat activity differ from kinematics of the contralateral intact knee. Thirty-three patients with a unilateral ACLD knee consented to participate in this institutional review board approved study with the contralateral intact knee serving as the control. In vivo knee kinematics during the wide-based squat were analyzed using a 2D/3D registration technique utilizing CT-based bone models and lateral fluoroscopy. Comparisons were performed using values between 0 and 100° flexion both in flexion and extension phases of the squat activity. Both the ACLD and intact knees demonstrated increasing tibial internal rotation with knee flexion, and no difference was observed in tibial rotation between the groups. The tibia in the ACLD knee was more anterior than that of the contralateral knees at 0 and 5° flexion in both phases (p < 0.05). Tibiofemoral medial contact points of the ACLD knees were more posterior than that of the contralateral knees at 5, 10 and 15° of knee flexion in the extension phase of the squat activity (p < 0.05). Tibiofemoral lateral contact points of the ACLD knees were more posterior than that of the contralateral knees at 0° flexion in the both phases (p < 0.05). The kinematics of the ACLD and contralateral intact knees were similar during the wide-based squat except at the low flexion angles. Therefore, we conclude the wide-based squat may be recommended for the ACLD knee by avoiding terminal extension.

Interpretation of natural tibio-femoral kinematics critically depends upon the kinematic analysis approach: A survey and comparison of methodologies.

While there is general agreement on the transverse plane knee joint motion for loaded flexion activities, its kinematics during functional movements such as level walking are discussed more controversially. One possible cause of this controversy could originate from the interpretation of kinematics based on different analysis approaches. In order to understand the impact of these approaches on the interpretation of tibio-femoral motion, a set of dynamic videofluoroscopy data presenting continuous knee bending and complete cycles of walking in ten subjects was analysed using six different kinematic analysis approaches. Use of a functional flexion axis resulted in significantly smaller ranges of condylar translation compared to anatomical axes and contact approaches. All contact points were located significantly more anteriorly than the femur fixed axes after 70° of flexion, but also during the early/mid stance and late swing phases of walking. Overall, a central to medial transverse plane centre of rotation was found for both activities using all six kinematic analysis approaches, although individual subjects exhibited lateral centres of rotation using certain approaches. The results of this study clearly show that deviations from the true functional axis of rotation result in kinematic crosstalk, suggesting that functional axes should be reported in preference to anatomical axes. Contact approaches, on the other hand, can present additional information on the local tibio-femoral contact conditions. To allow a more standardised comparison and interpretation of tibio-femoral kinematics, results should therefore be reported using at least a functionally determined axis and possibly also a contact point approach.

Dynamic Radiostereometry Evaluation of 2 Different Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Techniques During a Single-Leg Squat.

BACKGROUND: Lateral extra-articular tenodesis in the context of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction (ACLR) is performed to better control anterolateral knee instability in patients with high-grade preoperative pivot shift. However, some authors believe these procedures may cause lateral compartment overconstraint, affecting knee motion in daily life. PURPOSE/HYPOTHESIS: The primary aim of the present study was to identify kinematic differences during the execution of an activity under weightbearing conditions between knees having undergone ACLR using anatomic single-bundle (SB) versus single-bundle plus lateral plasty (SBLP) techniques. The secondary aim was to compare the postoperative kinematic data with those from the same knees before ACLR and from the healthy contralateral knees in order to investigate if ACLR was able to restore physiologic knee biomechanics during squat execution. The hypotheses were that (1) the SBLP technique would allow a better restoration of internal-external (IE) knee rotation than would SB and (2) regardless of the technique, ACLR would not fully restore physiologic knee biomechanics. STUDY DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial; Level of evidence, 2. METHODS: In total, 32 patients (42 knees) were included in the study. Patients were asked to perform a single-leg squat before surgery (ACL-injured group, n = 32; healthy contralateral group, n = 10) and at minimum 18-month follow-up after ACLR (SB group, n = 9; SBLP group, n = 18). Knee motion was determined using a validated model-based tracking process that matched patient-specific magnetic resonance imaging bone models to dynamic biplane radiographic images under the principles of roentgen stereophotogrammetric analysis. Data processing was performed using specific software. The authors compared IE and varus-valgus rotations and anterior-posterior and medial-lateral translations among the groups. RESULTS: The mean follow-up period was 21.7 ± 4.5 months. No kinematic differences were found between the SB and SBLP groups (P > .05). A more medial tibial position (P < .05) of the ACL-injured group was reported during the entire motor task and persisted after ACLR in both the SB and the SBLP groups. Differences in IE and varus-valgus rotations were found between the ACL-injured and healthy groups. CONCLUSION: There were no relevant kinematic differences between SBLP and anatomic SB ACLR during the execution of a single-leg squat. Regardless of the surgical technique, ACLR failed in restoring knee biomechanics. REGISTRATION: NCT02323386 (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier).

Sagittal knee kinematics in relation with the posterior tibia slope during jump landing after an anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

PURPOSE: An increased posterior tibia plateau angle is associated with increased risk for anterior cruciate ligament injury and re-rupture after reconstruction. The aims of this study were to determine whether the tibia plateau angle correlates with dynamic anterior tibia translation (ATT) after an anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction and whether the tibia plateau angle correlates with aspects of knee kinematics and kinetics during jump landing. METHODS: Thirty-seven patients after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with autograft hamstring tendon were included. Knee flexion angle and knee extension moment during single leg hops for distance were determined using a motion capture system and the dynamic ATT with its embedded method. The medial and lateral posterior tibia plateau angle were measured using MRI. Moreover, passive ATT was measured using the KT-1000 arthrometer. RESULTS: A weak negative correlation was found between the maximal dynamic ATT and the medial tibia plateau angle (p = 0.028, r = - 0.36) and between the maximal knee flexion angle and the lateral tibia plateau angle (p = 0.025, r = - 0.37) during landing. Patients with a smaller lateral tibia plateau angle show larger maximal knee flexion angle during landing than the patients with larger lateral tibia plateau angle. Also, the lateral tibia plateau angle is associated the amount of with muscle activity. CONCLUSION: The posterior medical tibia plateau angle is associated with dynamic ATT. The maximal knee flexion angle and muscle activity are associated with the posterior lateral tibia plateau angle. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.

Tibio-femoral kinematics of the healthy knee joint throughout complete cycles of gait activities.

Accurate assessment of 3D tibio-femoral kinematics is essential for understanding knee joint functionality, but also provides a basis for assessing joint pathologies and the efficacy of musculoskeletal interventions. Until now, however, the assessment of functional kinematics in healthy knees has been mostly restricted to the loaded stance phase of gait, and level walking only, but the most critical conditions for the surrounding soft tissues are known to occur during high-flexion activities. This study aimed to determine the ranges of tibio-femoral rotation and condylar translation as well as provide evidence on the location of the centre of rotation during multiple complete cycles of different gait activities. Based on radiographic images captured using moving fluoroscopy in ten healthy subjects during multiple cycles of level walking, downhill walking and stair descent, 3D femoral and tibial poses were reconstructed to provide a comprehensive description of tibio-femoral kinematics. Despite a significant increase in joint flexion, the condylar antero-posterior range of motion remained comparable across all activities, with mean translations of 6.3-8.3 mm and 7.3-9.3 mm for the medial and lateral condyles respectively. Only the swing phase of level walking and stair descent exhibited a significantly greater range of motion for the lateral over the medial compartment. Although intra-subject variability was low, considerable differences in joint kinematics were observed between subjects. The observed subject-specific movement patterns indicate that accurate assessment of individual pre-operative kinematics together with individual implant selection and/or surgical implantation decisions might be necessary before further improvement to joint replacement outcome can be achieved.

Case series report of navigation-based in vivo knee kinematics in total knee arthroplasty with a gradually reducing femoral radius design.

BACKGROUND: Simulations show that paradoxical anterior femoral slide in conventional dual radius total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is initiated by sudden reduction of the femoral radius from distal to posterior. Therefore, we hypothesized that a new TKA prosthesis design with a gradually reducing femoral radius may minimize the anterior slide in navigation-based in vivo knee kinematics. The purpose of this study was to compare the kinematics of TKA in vivo using a prosthesis with a gradually reducing radius, in comparison with the conventional dual radius design. METHODS: A retrospective case series report was performed for 12 knees with osteoarthritis using a CT-free navigation system. Six knees received TKA using a prosthesis with a gradually reducing femoral radius (Attune CR) and the other 6 knees underwent TKA using a conventional dual radius design (PFCΣ CR). Anterior-posterior (AP) displacement of the medial and lateral femoral condyles relative to the tibia, and kinematic patterns of the femur throughout the range of motion were compared between the groups. RESULTS: The average AP displacement in the Attune CR group indicated no paradoxical anterior movement of both condyles, and kinematic data showed a medial pivot pattern. In contrast, AP displacement in the PFCΣ CR group indicated that both condyles showed paradoxical anterior movement, and kinematically both condyles moved in the same manner, showing a parallel motion pattern. CONCLUSION: TKA using a prosthesis with a gradually reducing radius minimized paradoxical anterior slide in navigation-based in vivo knee kinematics.

Motion of the femoral condyles in flexion and extension during a continuous lunge.

Numerous studies have reported on in-vivo posterior femoral condyle translations during various activities of the knee. However, no data has been reported on the knee motion during a continuous flexion-extension cycle. Further, few studies have investigated the gender variations on the knee kinematics. This study quantitatively determined femoral condylar motion of 10 male and 10 female knees during a continuous weightbearing flexion-extension cycle using two-dimensional to three-dimensional fluoroscopic tracking technique. The knees were CT-scanned to create three-dimensional models of the tibia and femur. Continuous images of each subject were taken using a single-fluoroscopic imaging system. The knee kinematics were measured along the motion path using geometric center axis of the femur. The results indicated that statistical differences between the flexion and extension motions were only found in internal-external tibial rotation and lateral femoral condylar motion at the middle range of flexion angles. At low flexion angles, male knees have greater external tibial rotation and more posteriorly positioned medial femoral condyle than females. The knee did not show a specific pivoting type of rotation with flexion. Axial rotation center varied from lateral to medial compartments of the knee. These data could provide useful information for understanding physiological motion of normal knees.

Kinematic characteristics of the tibiofemoral joint during a step-up activity.

The step-up activity (stair-ascending) is an important daily function of the knee. This study aimed to investigate the articular cartilage contact kinematics on both tibial and femoral cartilage surfaces and describe the femoral condylar motion using the transepicondylar axis (TEA) and the geometric center axis (GCA) during a step-up activity. Twenty-one healthy subjects were included and their knee joint models were reconstructed using MR images. A single-stair step-up activity was imaged using a dual-fluoroscopic imaging system. Three-dimensional knee joint contact points were determined and projected onto the tibial plateau and femoral condylar surfaces. The contact points on the medial and lateral tibial plateau moved anteriorly (by 13.5±3.2 and 10.7±5.0 mm, respectively, p>0.05) with knee extension. The contact points on the medial and lateral femoral condyle moved from the posterior to the anterior portion (by 32.2±4.9 mm and 25.5±4.2 mm, respectively, p<0.05) and were located on the inner half of the femoral cartilage throughout the activity. The data on articular contact kinematics and the femoral condylar motion described using the TEA and GCA indicated that the medial and lateral compartments had similar motion patterns during the step-up activity. The knee does not demonstrate a medial-pivoting motion character during the step-up activity. The data may provide insight to contemporary TKA development.