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Skeletal Radiology

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01-10-2018 | Scientific Article

Anterior laxity of the knee assessed with gravity stress radiograph

Authors: Tatsuo Mae, Konsei Shino, Kunihiko Hiramatsu, Yuta Tachibana, Shigeto Nakagawa, Hideki Yoshikawa

Published in: Skeletal Radiology | Issue 10/2018

Abstract

Objective

To clarify the advantage of prone position over supine position in radiographically-demonstrating anterior knee laxity measurement for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, and to optimize the radiographic technique for the ACL-deficient knees in a clinical setting.

Materials and methods

Thirty-nine patients with unilateral ACL injury had consented to participate in this study. They were divided into two groups and subjected to the different radiographic evaluations: study 1 (20 patients); supine versus prone position with knee full-extended, and study 2 (19 patients); comparison of (1) prone position with knee full-extended (FPV), (2) prone position with knee flexed at 15° (AGV), and (3) supine position with calf put on a board at 15° of knee flexion (SGV). Lateral radiographs for both knees were taken and were measured the side-to-side difference of tibial position related to femur.

Results

In study 1, the side-to-side difference was 2.8 ± 1.0 mm in supine position and 4.3 ± 2.1 mm in prone position, showing a statistically significant difference. In study 2, the side-to-side difference was 3.7 ± 2.4 mm in FPV, 4.6 ± 2.0 mm in AGV, and 4.2 ± 2.8 mm in SGV, while the difference in the latter two positions was larger than that in FPV.

Conclusions

The anterior laxity in prone position is larger than that in supine position for ACL injury. Moreover, the gravity-assisted lateral radiograph in prone position with knee flexed at 15° could be one of the preferable radiographic techniques and could provide more information than the simple radiograph.

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Title: Anterior laxity of the knee assessed with gravity stress radiograph
Authors: Tatsuo Mae
Konsei Shino
Kunihiko Hiramatsu
Yuta Tachibana
Shigeto Nakagawa
Hideki Yoshikawa
Publication date: 01-10-2018
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in: Skeletal Radiology / Issue 10/2018
Print ISSN: 0364-2348
Electronic ISSN: 1432-2161
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00256-018-2941-5

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Anterior laxity of the knee assessed with gravity stress radiograph

Abstract

Objective

Materials and methods

Results

Conclusions

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Objective

Materials and methods

Results

Conclusions

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