In a prospective study, 60 consecutive patients underwent a distal iliotibial band transfer for anterolateral knee instability. Knee function was evaluated with a score system, static stability tests and a standardized test including thigh muscle measurements, a one-leg-jump-test and a figure-of-8 running test. At the 40-month follow-up there was a significant increase in the mean knee score. The quadriceps in the treated leg was significantly weaker than in the non-operated leg, and the quadriceps strength was significantly correlated to the knee score. The functional outcome after operation was generally unsatisfactory. Few patients attained normal values in all tests, primarily because of poor restoration of stability.
Sixteen patients with old knee ligament injuries and symptoms of instability or pain were treated with a 3-month thigh muscle strength training program. Nine patients had a tear of the anterior and six patients a tear of the posterior cruciate ligament. One patient had a tear of both cruciates. Knee function was determined with a knee scoring scale, and thigh muscle strength with a Cybex-II dynamometer before training, after 1 and 3 months of training, and at a late follow-up after 2 years. Ten patients who increased their quadriceps strength by more than 15 per cent increased their score over 30 per cent. Three patients who showed a minor increase in strength did not increase their score significantly. Three patients did not increase their strength at all. All of these admitted a reluctance to train. Four patients, all with anterior cruciate ligament tears, were operated on after the 3-month training period. All four patients increased their strength. Two of them increased their functional score also, but they strove for a very high activity level and were therefore operated on. The other two patients had no symptomatic relief and were therefore also operated on. Improvements in muscle strength and knee function were unchanged at the 2-year follow up. Before planning a knee ligament reconstruction, a period of strength training is recommended.
Fifty-three consecutive patients with troublesome old cruciate ligament lesions underwent a 3-month thigh and calf muscle training program. Before training, the diagnosis was established by arthroscopy and clinical examination under anesthesia. Significant improvement in strength, performance, knee score, and activity level took place; the majority were improved and declined surgery. A period of strength training is recommended before the decision to undertake surgery for cruciate ligament injury.
A good system for evaluating the degree of impairment, disability, and handicap of the patient with a cruciate ligament injury includes functional score, activity grading, stability testing, and measurements of performance and strength, all of which are relevant to different aspects of knee function. The symptom-related knee score gives a more differentiated picture of the disability than does a binomial rating of symptoms. A way of grading the disability in an objective way is to use a performance test. This test could also be used for monitoring rehabilitation before full activity has been resumed. The activity grading scale is very useful for grading the handicap
Four different types of derotation braces and an elastic knee support were tested on ice-hockey players. The elastic support did not noticeably affect rotation and abduction-adduction of the knee. All four braces reduced rotation and abduction-adduction in test actions simulating sports situations. Flexion-extension was slightly affected by two of the individually made braces in one action. Running a figure eight was slower with two of the individually made braces. The best braces, one individually made and one ready-made, limited rotation and abduction-adduction effectively, but did not affect performance. Minor differences in design may account for differences in effect and may alter the protection afforded by a brace.