The influence of external knee moments on the outcome of total meniscectomy. A comparison of radiological and 3-D gait analysis measurements

Twenty one individuals who had undergone unilateral total meniscectomy, and had no significant antero-posterior (AP) laxity underwent three dimensiona l (3-D) gait analysis, bilateral radiological assessment of varus/valgus al ignment and tibio-femoral osteoarthritis (TFOA). Average foot progression a ngle during the stance phase of gait was not related to knee adduction mome nt. The findings support the previously noted correlation between varus/val gus alignment and TFOA. The dynamic gait parameter of the adduction moment in early stance did not correlate with either hip-knee-ankle angle or TFOA, thus the expected influence of external moments on outcome after meniscect omy was not found. Thus the correlation between varus/valgus alignment and TFOA can not be explained by a simple loading algorithm. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.