Contribution of the arthrometer in the anterior laxity of the knee before and after reconstructive surgery

The objective of our work is to clarify the contribution of knee arthrometer in the diagnosis of the anterior laxity of the knee, to look for the factors of escalation of this pathology, to estimate the objective results and outcomes following of the anterior cruciate ligament surgery. It is about a retrospective study which concerned 78 patients presenting the anterior chronic laxity of the knee, investigated, treated and followed in the M.-T.-Kassab Institute of Orthopaedics over a period of 10 years. The average age of our patients was of 27.6 years with a male ascendancy. The anterior cruciate ligament surgery was realized according to the technique of Kenneth-Jones under arthroscopy. The arthrometer has been used to determine the outcome 6 months after the surgery. Before the surgery, the average anterior translation of the tibia was 15.3 mm, 95% of the patients had 8 mm previous absolute laxity, while the differential was about 4 mm in 87% of the cases in which comparative study could be made. There was a statistically significant correlation between the Lachman's test, the internal meniscus injuries and the delay accident - surgery with the anterior knee laxity in the arthrometer. The postoperative average laxity was bout 8.2 mm and earning was proportional to the importance of the initial tibial translation. The present study demonstrates that arthrometer tests may be an objective complement for the clinical exam, with a diagnostic, previous and therapeutic purpose.Original Abstract: L'objectif de notre travail etait de preciser l'interet du Telos dans le diagnostic d'une laxite anterieure du genou, de rechercher les facteurs d'aggravation de cette pathologie, d'evaluer les resultats objectifs de la ligamentoplastie et d'etablir une valeur seuil. Il s'agit d'une etude retrospective portant sur 78 patients presentant une laxite chronique anterieure du genou, traites et suivis a notre institut sur une periode de dix ans. L'age moyen des patients etait de 27,6 ans avec une predominance masculine. Une ligamentoplastie a ete realisee selon la technique de Kenneth- Jones sous arthroscopie et a ete evaluee au Telos a six mois. la laxite moyenne preoperatoire etait de 15,3 mm : 95 % des patients avaient une laxite anterieure absolue superieure ou egale a 8 mm alors que la differentielle etait superieure ou egale a 4 mm dans 87 % des cas ou un Telos comparatif a pu etre effectue. L'amplitude du Lachman radiologique etait correlee avec l'importance du Lachma