Proprioception after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with and without bracing

In this investigation we evaluated the effect of ACL reconstruction and fun ctional knee bracing on knee proprioception. Twenty subjects who experience d acute ACL disruption and underwent reconstruction with a bone-patellar te ndon-bone graft participated in a controlled rehabilitation program and wer e studied at a mean follow-up of 2 years. A control group of ten subjects w ere also studied. In both groups proprioception was evaluated by measuring the threshold to detection of passive motion (TDPM) with the knee at 15 deg rees of flexion with and without a functional knee brace applied. The Knee Osteoarthritis Outcome Score, Cincinnati knee score, and two functional kne e tests were also used as outcome measurements. Anterior-posterior displace ment of the tibia relative to the femur was evaluated with the KT-1000 arth rometer. There were no significant differences in TDPM between the ACL-reco nstructed and contralateral knees, or between the ACL reconstructed group a nd the healthy control group. Bracing did not produce a significant change in the TDPM for the ACL-reconstructed group or for the control group. There were low to moderate correlations between TDPM and the other outcome measu rements. This study indicates that there is no significant differences in p roprioception between the ACL-reconstructed knee and the contralateral unin volved knee 1 year or more after surgery. Functional knee bracing does not seem to improve proprioception in patients who have undergone ACL reconstru ction and been followed up on average 2 years after surgery.