Proprioception after rehabilitation and reconstruction in knees with deficiency of the anterior cruciate ligament - A prospective, longitudinal study

We assessed proprioception in the knee using the angle reproduction test in 20 healthy volunteers, ten patients with acute anterior instability and 20 patients,vith chronic anterior instability after reconstruction of the ant erior cruciate ligament (ACL). In addition, the Lysholm-knee score, ligamen t laxity and patient satisfaction were determined. Acute trauma causes extensive damage to proprioception which is not restore d by rehabilitation alone, Three months after operation, there remained a s light decrease in proprioception compared with the preoperative recordings, but six months after reconstruction, restoration of proprioception was see n near full extension and full flexion, In the mid-range position, proprioc eption was not restored. At follow-up, 3.7 +/- 0.3 years after reconstructi on, there was further improvement of proprioception in the mid-range positi on. There was no difference between open and arthroscopic techniques, The h ighest correlation was found between proprioception and patient satisfactio n. After reconstruction of the ACL reduced proprioception may explain the p oor functional outcome in some patients, despite restoration of mechanical stability.