Kinematics of anterior cruciate ligament-deficient knees in a Chinese population during stair ascent.
BACKGROUND
The purpose of this study was to measure the tibiofemoral kinematics of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) deficiency in a Chinese population and compare the kinematics with published data about a Caucasian population.


METHODS
Unilateral knees of 18 Chinese ACL-deficient (ACL-D) subjects were studied while subjects ascended stairs. Kinematic alteration was compared between ACL-D knees and contralateral ACL-intact (ACL-I) knees. The kinematic alteration of ACL deficiency was also compared between the Chinese population and published data about a Caucasian population.


RESULTS
A statistical difference was found in the three-dimensional rotations between ACL-D and ACL-I knees. In the sagittal plane, ACL-I knees had a larger flexion angle than ACL-D knees during 40 to 50 % of the activity during stair ascent (P < 0.027) and throughout the gait cycle. A significant difference in rotational motion between ACL-D and ACL-I knees was also observed in the frontal plane during 40 to 60 % (P < 0.017) of the activity and in the transverse plane during 70 to 80 % (P < 0.028) of the activity. A greater tibial varus was demonstrated in the Chinese population while the published data revealed external tibial rotation and a statistical difference in translation in the Caucasian population.


CONCLUSIONS
ACL-D knees show different kinematics than ACL-I knees in the Chinese population. ACL-I knees had a larger flexion angle than ACL-D knees in the middle stage of the activity during stair ascent. A significant difference in rotational motion between ACL-D and ACL-I knees was also observed in the frontal plane during the middle phase and in the transverse plane during the terminal phase of the activity. A greater tibial varus was demonstrated in the Caucasian population while the published data revealed external tibial rotation and a statistical difference in translation in the Caucasian population.
['Zhao|Chang|C|', 'Lin|Chuangxin|C|', 'Wang|Wenhao|W|', 'Zeng|Chun|C|', 'Fang|Hang|H|', 'Pan|Jianying|J|', 'Cai|Daozhang|D|http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0386-7473']
D000328:Adult D016118:Anterior Cruciate Ligament D000070598:Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries D044466:Asians D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena D005260:Female D006801:Humans D007593:Joint Instability D008297:Male D011159:Population Surveillance D016059:Range of Motion, Articular D012399:Rotation D000072799:Stair Climbing D044465:Whites D055815:Young Adult
Kinematics Knee Chinese Anterior cruciate ligament Gait