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· DOS Abstracts
Changes in total lower limb support moment in middle-
aged patients undergoing arthroscopic partial menis-
cectomy
Anders Holsgaard-Larsen, Jonas B Thorlund, Tim Blackmore, Mark W Creaby
Orthopaedic Research Unit, Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology,
Odense University Hospital, Institute of Clinical Research, University of Southern
Denmark; Department of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics, University of
Southern Denmark; School of Exercise Science, Australian Catholic University, Bris-
bane, Queensland, Australia; School of Exercise Science, Australian Catholic Univer-
sity, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Background:
The total lower limb support moment (TSM), is the sum of positive
sagittal plane moments at the hip, knee and ankle, and is required to support body
mass during gait and may be altered following arthroscopic partial meniscectomy
(APM).
Purpose / Aim of Study:
To test the hypothesis that a) individuals prior to surgery
demonstrate reduced TSM and relatively higher distribution of ankle and hip mo-
ments as a potential strategy to spare/unload the injured knee and b) following sur-
gery TSM outcome measures of the injured leg will be closer to the contralateral leg.
Materials and Methods:
Individuals with a medial degenerative meniscal tear eli-
gible for APM were recruited. To estimate changes in peak TSM, and positive ankle
(ASM), knee (KSM), and hip (HSM) moments, 3D motion analysis of walking at self-
selected speed prior to APM and 12 months after APM was performed.
Findings / Results:
Patients (n = 21) were middle aged (age: 45.9 ± 6.3 years),
slightly overweight (BMI: 25.9 ± 3.6 kg/m2) and the majority male (71%). At base-
line a statistically significant lower KSM (30%, P = 0.048) and a tendency towards
a lower peak TSM (9%, P = 0.099) were observed for the APM compared with the
contra-lateral leg. Following surgery a more equal distribution of support moment
variables were observed since a statistically significant between-leg change (base-
line versus 12 months follow-up) for peak TSM (mean [95% CI]; -0.49 [-0.96;
-0.01], P = 0.047) was observed.
Conclusions:
Individuals prior to APM demonstrated a potential strategy to spare/
unload the injured knee. The observed differences were not present at 12 months
post- APM. Whether these changes in TSM strategy should be considered a normal-
ization towards a ‘healthy joint load distribution’ or a contributor to the high risk of
knee OA development in patients undergoing APM needs to be established.
No conflicts of interest reported
94.