Abstract
The KT1000 is widely accepted as a tool for the instrumented measurement of the anteroposterior tibial translation. The aim of this study is to compare the data obtained with the KT1000 in ACL deficient knees with the data obtained using a navigation system during “in vivo” ACL reconstruction procedures and to validate the accuracy of the KT1000.
An ACL reconstruction was performed using computer aided surgical navigation (Orthopilot, B-Braun, A esculap, Tuttlingen, Germany) in thirty patients. Antero-posterior laxity measurements were obtained for all patients using KT1000 arthrometer (in a conscious state and under general anesthesia) and during surgery using the navigation system, always at 30° of knee flexion.
The mean AP translation was 14±4 mm and 15,6±3,8 using the KT1000 in conscious and under general anesthesia respectively (p=0.02) and 16,1±3,7 mm using navigation. Measurements with the KT1000 under general anesthesia were not different to those obtained “in vivo” with the navigation system (p=0,37).
In conclusion this study validates the accuracy of the KT1000 to exactly calculate AP translation of the tibia, in comparison with the more accurate measurements obtained using a navigation system.
Correspondence should be addressed to: EFORT Central Office, Technoparkstrasse 1, CH – 8005 Zürich, Switzerland. Tel: +41 44 448 44 00; Email: office@efort.org
Author: Edoardo Monaco, Italy
E-mail: edoardo.monaco@tin.it
