The effects of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction on tibial rotation during pivoting after descending stairs

Recent in vitro research suggests that ACL reconstruction does not restore tibial rotation. This study investigated rotational knee joint stability in vivo during a combined descending and pivoting movement that applies a high rotational load to the knee joint. We studied 20 ACL reconstructed patients (bone-patellar tendon-bone graft) and 15 matched controls with a six-camera optoelectronic system performing the examined movement. In the control group the results showed no significant differences in the amount of tibial rotation between the two sides. No significant differences were also found between the contralateral intact leg of the ACL group and the healthy control. However, a significant difference was found within the ACL reconstructed group and between the reconstructed and the contralateral intact leg. Therefore ACL reconstruction may not restore tibial rotation even though anterior tibial translation has been reestablished.