Functional outcome of lower limb following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction; a prospective clinical study

Abstract

Background: Both isokinetic testing and functional tests are commonly used to evaluate anterior cruciate ligament reconstructed (ACLR) patients. The object of this study was to evaluate motor performance of the knee and determine the relationship of isokinetic test scores to scores on a variety of lower extremity functional tests. Methods: Ten healthy subjects and eleven ACLR patients at least six months after surgery performed the following: knee isokinetic tests at 60 and 180 deg/sec; three functional tests including leg vertical jump, single hop, and triple cross-over hop for distance. The International Knee Document Committee Subjective Knee Evaluation Form (IKDCSKEF) was used to score the self-assessment of each study participant. Paired T-test was used to compare the involved and uninvolved knee. Pearson correlation coefficients were used to determine the relationship between the scores on the isokinetic test and functional tests. Significance was determined by P<0.05. Results: IKDCSKEF score was significantly lower in patients than control subjects. Quadriceps peak torque and functional test scores were significantly lower in the involved knee of the ACLR subjects compared to the uninvolved knee. Correlation coefficients of isokinetic peak torque to body weight and functional testing were not significant in patients or control subjects, whi1e the limb symmetry index (LSI) of the quadriceps isokinetics peak torque to body weight and the LSI of the functional tests were significant (r = 0.54 to 0.97). Conclusion: These results indicate a significant relationship between the LSI of various functional tests and the LSI of isokinetic testing among ACLR patients. Thus, in situations where an isokinetic dynamometer is not available, the LSI of functional tests can be used to estimate quadriceps deficiency for ACLR patients. © 2008, Tehran University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved