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Hafsteinsson Östenberg A1, Ericsson D1, Andersson E2, Alricsson M3
1Linneaus University, Department of Sport Science, Växjö, Sweden, 2Mid University, Department of Health Sciences, Östersund, Sweden, 3Linnaeus University, Department of Sport Science, Kalmar, Sweden
Background: Almost 6,000ACL injuries occur annually in Sweden, mostly following sport related knee trauma. An early and correct diagnosis is of great importancein the management of these patients to prevent recurrent episodes of instability and thereby lowering the risk of associated knee joint injuries.
Instrumented testing of anterior posterior knee laxity has become an objective valuable tool in combination with clinical tests in evaluation and diagnosis of ACL injuries. The Rolimeter is an instrument that quantifies anterior knee laxity and has in previous studies showed satisfactory results regarding intraand inter test reliability in subjects without injuries or with chronic ACL deficiency.
Purpose: The aim of the present study was to test the reliability of the Rolimeter in the acute phase following a substantial knee trauma. The repeatability of the test procedure was also investigated.
Methods: Totally 15 subjects (age 22.7 ± 6.9) with acute knee trauma were exam-ined by one single observer at three different times with the Rolimeter (arthrometer model, Aircast, Europa) using maximum force. Both injured and non-injured knees were examined and anterior posterior displacement was recorded.
Endpoint examination was used as the gold standard in data analysis.
Results: The results showed strong significant correlations for the Rolimeter scores of knee laxity between baseline and endpoint for both injured and non-injured knees (r=0.928, p 0.01 and r=0.987, p 0.01 respectively).
Mean differences in anterior laxity were small with no significant differences between readings. High repeatability was found in repeated measurements with no significant change over time for the non-injured knees.
Conclusion(s): The study implicates that the Rolimeter produces reliable quantification of anterior knee laxity in repeated measurements even in the acute phase following knee trauma. In combination with manual tests the Rolimeter seems to be a valuable instrument in diagnosing ACL injuries
Implications: The use of the Rolimeter in combination with clinical testing may help the physical therapist a well as the patienten when it comes to introducing and start the rehabilitation.
Keywords: Anterior cruciate ligament, Arthrometer, Diagnosis
Funding acknowledgements: No funding was obtained for this study
Instrumented testing of anterior posterior knee laxity has become an objective valuable tool in combination with clinical tests in evaluation and diagnosis of ACL injuries. The Rolimeter is an instrument that quantifies anterior knee laxity and has in previous studies showed satisfactory results regarding intraand inter test reliability in subjects without injuries or with chronic ACL deficiency.
Purpose: The aim of the present study was to test the reliability of the Rolimeter in the acute phase following a substantial knee trauma. The repeatability of the test procedure was also investigated.
Methods: Totally 15 subjects (age 22.7 ± 6.9) with acute knee trauma were exam-ined by one single observer at three different times with the Rolimeter (arthrometer model, Aircast, Europa) using maximum force. Both injured and non-injured knees were examined and anterior posterior displacement was recorded.
Endpoint examination was used as the gold standard in data analysis.
Results: The results showed strong significant correlations for the Rolimeter scores of knee laxity between baseline and endpoint for both injured and non-injured knees (r=0.928, p 0.01 and r=0.987, p 0.01 respectively).
Mean differences in anterior laxity were small with no significant differences between readings. High repeatability was found in repeated measurements with no significant change over time for the non-injured knees.
Conclusion(s): The study implicates that the Rolimeter produces reliable quantification of anterior knee laxity in repeated measurements even in the acute phase following knee trauma. In combination with manual tests the Rolimeter seems to be a valuable instrument in diagnosing ACL injuries
Implications: The use of the Rolimeter in combination with clinical testing may help the physical therapist a well as the patienten when it comes to introducing and start the rehabilitation.
Keywords: Anterior cruciate ligament, Arthrometer, Diagnosis
Funding acknowledgements: No funding was obtained for this study
Topic: Sport & sports injuries; Orthopaedics
Ethics approval required: Yes
Institution: Linneaus University, Växjö, Sweden
Ethics committee: Ethical Advisory Board in South East Sweden
Ethics number: Dnr EPK 311-2015
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
