EFFECT OF THE POSTERIOR CRUCIATE LIGAMENT IN KNEE-JOINT PROPRIOCEPTION IN TOTAL KNEE ARTHROPLASTY

The primary purpose of the study was to examine the role of the poster ior cruciate ligament (PCL) in knee-joint proprioception after total k nee arthroplasty (TKA). Knee-joint proprioception was measured in 10 p atients with nonsacrificed PCL TKAs and la with sacrificed PCL TKAs. K nee-joint proprioception was evaluated through reproduction of static knee angles using a Penny and Giles(TM) electrogoniometer. The primary variable was absolute angular error (AAE). AAE was defined as the abs olute value of the difference between the test angle and the patient's perceived version of the test angle. Proprioception deficit was compa red to the WOMAC questionnaire which evaluates pain, stiffness, and ph ysical function of the lower extremity. No significant difference was found between the nonsacrificed PCL TKA (4.33 degrees +/- 1.52 degrees ) and sacrificed PCL TKA (4.38 degrees +/- 1.39 degrees) AAE values (P > .4). Further mure, no significant differences were observed in the WOMAC questionnaire scores for all three parameters between the two ty pes of knee prosthesis (P > .35). The current findings suggest that th e preservation of the PCL in TKA may not improve knee-joint propriocep tion and subsequently may not improve TKA functional performance.