Analysis of the significance of the measurement of acceleration with respect to lateral laxity of the anterior cruciate ligament insufficient knee

The purpose of this study was to assess dynamically the lateral thrust of a nterior cruciate ligament (ACL) insufficient knees, and from the findings d etermine any relationship between ACL insufficiency and the later developme nt of osteoarthritis (OA), We investigated 80 knees in 40 patients awaiting ACL reconstruction and 25 knees of 25 patients, which had undergone ACL re construction. An acceleration sensor was fixed to the anterior tibial tuber cle and this 'acted' in two directions - medial lateral and perpendicular. The peak value of the lateral acceleration immediately after heel strike wa s significantly greater in the ACL insufficient knees when compared to thei r opposite normal knees. When the periods from injury were compared, the la teral thrust of the injured side after 3 years or more was significantly gr eater than in the first 3 years. There was no significant difference betwee n the normal knees and the ACL reconstructed knees. The results indicated t hat the lateral acceleration peak value was significantly greater in the AC L insufficient knees than in their opposite normal knees.