S. Simmons et al., PROPRIOCEPTION AFTER UNICONDYLAR KNEE ARTHROPLASTY VERSUS TOTAL KNEE ARTHROPLASTY, Clinical orthopaedics and related research, (331), 1996, pp. 179-184
Proprioception was measured in 2 groups of patients after successful k
nee arthroplasty. Twenty-eight patients had total knee arthroplasty an
d their results were compared with an age matched group of 10 subjects
who had undergone unicondylar knee arthroplasty. The threshold to det
ection of passive motion was quantified as a measure of proprioception
. The degree of preoperative arthritis was objectively classified acco
rding to Resnick. The anterior cruciate ligament and posterior cruciat
e ligament were present and preserved in all the patients who had unde
rgone unicondylar knee arthroplasty. The anterior cruciate ligament wa
s sacrificed and posterior cruciate ligament retained in 15 of the pat
ients who had total knee arthroplasty and the anterior cruciate ligame
nt and posterior cruciate ligament were sacrificed in 13 of the patien
ts who had total knee arthroplasties. There was no difference in thres
hold to detection of passive motion among any of the 3 groups. Maintai
ning the anterior cruciate ligament and posterior cruciate ligament di
d not impart improved proprioception in unicondylar knee arthroplasty
nor did maintaining the posterior cruciate ligament impart improved pr
oprioception in total knee arthroplasty.