DOS Kongressen 2014 ·
227
Knee Joint Loading Indices Before and 3 Months
after Arthroscopic Partial Medial Meniscectomy
Jonas B. Thorlund, Mark W. Creaby, Martin Englund, Nis Nissen, L. Stefan
Lohmander, Anders Holsgaard-Larsen
Department of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics, University of
Southern Denmark; , Australian Catholic University, Brisbane, Australia;
Department of Orthopedics, Lillebaelt Hospital, Kolding; Department of Clinical
Science and Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, University of
Southern Denmark and Odense University Hospital
Background:
Increased knee adduction moment (KAM) is considered an im-
portant biomechanical marker of medial compartment loading in knee osteoar-
thritis (OA) research. Patients undergoing arthroscopic partial medial meniscec-
tomy (APMM) are at increased risk of developing medial compartment knee
OA. APMM may contribute to altered knee joint loading patterns. However, this
is currently unknown.
Purpose / Aim of Study:
The aim of this study was to determine the short-
term changes in knee joint loading indices from before to after medial APMM.
Materials and Methods:
We investigated indices of knee joint loading (peak
KAM and KAM impulse) using 3D gait analysis in 23 middle-aged patients
(17 men, 46.3 yrs (SD 6.4), BMI 25.8 kg/m2 (3.4) before and 3 months af-
ter APMM for a degenerative tear. Patients had no radiographic knee OA (i.e.
Kellgren & Lawrence grade 0 or 1) in the leg undergoing APMM or in their un-
injured control leg prior to surgery. Data were collected during barefoot gait at
self-selected walking speed (± 5% at follow-up). Paired t-tests were used to
test for differences at baseline and differences in change over time between
operated and control legs.
Findings / Results:
No differences were observed between the operated and
uninjured control leg in peak KAM (p=0.42) or KAM impulse (p=0.14) before
APMM. No difference in change from before to 3 months after APMM were
observed between operated and uninjured control legs in peak KAM (0.17 [95%
CI, -0.13-0.49] Nm/BW*HT%), whereas a border line significant increase was
observed in the APMM leg in KAM impulse (0.09 [95% CI, -0.01-0.19] Nms/
BW*HT%).
Conclusions:
Knee joint loading indices - as indicated by the KAM - do not ap-
pear to substantially increase in the operated leg compared with the uninjured
control leg from before to 3 months after APMM in middle-aged patients with
degenerative meniscal tears.
174.
