The effect of distal femur bony morphology on in vivo knee translational and rotational kinematics

PurposeTibio-femoral kinematics are clearly influenced by the bony morphology of the femur. Previous morphological studies have not directly evaluated relationships between morphology and knee kinematics. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between distal femur bony morphology and in vivo knee kinematics during running. It was hypothesized that the posterior offset of the transcondylar axis would be related to the magnitude of anterior/posterior tibio-femoral translation and that the rotational angle of the transcondylar axis would be related to the magnitude of internal/external knee rotation.MethodsSeventeen contralateral (uninjured) knees of ACL-reconstructed patients were used. Distal femoral geometry was analyzed from 3D-CT data by determining the anteroposterior location (condyle offset ratio—COR) and rotational angle (condylar twist angle—CTA) of the femoral transcondylar axis. Six degree-of-freedom knee kinematics were obtained during running using a dynamic stereo radiograph system. Knee kinematics were correlated with the femoral morphologic measures (COR and CTA) to investigate the influence of femoral geometry on dynamic knee function.ResultsSignificant correlations were identified between distal femur morphology and knee kinematics. Anterior tibial translation was positively correlated with the condyle offset ratio (R2 = 0.41, P < 0.01). Internal tibial rotation was positively correlated with the condylar twist angle (R2 = 0.48, P < 0.01).ConclusionsCorrelations between knee kinematics and morphologic measures describing the position and orientation of the femoral transcondylar axis suggest that these specific measures are valuable for characterizing the influence of femur shape on dynamic knee function.Level of evidenceIII.

[1]  Fang Liu,et al.  Tibiofemoral kinematics and condylar motion during the stance phase of gait. , 2009, Journal of biomechanics.

[2]  Sharmila Majumdar,et al.  Magnetic resonance imaging of 3-dimensional in vivo tibiofemoral kinematics in anterior cruciate ligament-reconstructed knees. , 2009, Arthroscopy : the journal of arthroscopic & related surgery : official publication of the Arthroscopy Association of North America and the International Arthroscopy Association.

[3]  Moshe Solomonow,et al.  Anterior-posterior and rotational displacement of the tibia elicited by quadriceps contraction , 1992, The American journal of sports medicine.

[4]  V M Spitzer,et al.  Three-Dimensional Morphology of the Distal Part of the Femur Viewed in Virtual Reality , 2001, The Journal of bone and joint surgery. American volume.

[5]  Martin Logan,et al.  Tibiofemoral Kinematics of the Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL)-Deficient Weightbearing, Living Knee Employing Vertical Access Open “Interventional” Multiple Resonance Imaging , 2004, The American journal of sports medicine.

[6]  Scott Tashman,et al.  A computerized analysis of femoral condyle radii in ACL intact and contralateral ACL reconstructed knees using 3D CT , 2010, Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy.

[7]  R. LaPrade,et al.  Femoral Intercondylar Notch Stenosis and Correlation to Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries , 1994, The American journal of sports medicine.

[8]  Ramprasad Papannagari,et al.  The 6 Degrees of Freedom Kinematics of the Knee after Anterior Cruciate Ligament Deficiency , 2006, The American journal of sports medicine.

[9]  P. Parizel,et al.  A common reference frame for describing rotation of the distal femur: a ct-based kinematic study using cadavers. , 2009, The Journal of bone and joint surgery. British volume.

[10]  K. Refshauge,et al.  Does anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction restore normal knee kinematics?: A prospective MRI analysis over two years. , 2006, The Journal of bone and joint surgery. British volume.

[11]  T. Gill,et al.  The Contralateral Knee Joint in Cruciate Ligament Deficiency , 2008, The American journal of sports medicine.

[12]  Scott Tashman,et al.  In-vivo measurement of dynamic joint motion using high speed biplane radiography and CT: application to canine ACL deficiency. , 2003, Journal of biomechanical engineering.

[13]  S. Woo,et al.  The importance of quadriceps and hamstring muscle loading on knee kinematics and in-situ forces in the ACL. , 1999, Journal of biomechanics.

[14]  Scott Tashman,et al.  Validation of three-dimensional model-based tibio-femoral tracking during running. , 2009, Medical engineering & physics.

[15]  J. Kärrholm,et al.  Will early reconstruction prevent abnormal kinematics after ACL injury? Two-year follow-up using dynamic radiostereometry in 14 patients operated with hamstring autografts , 2011, Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy.

[16]  K. Markolf,et al.  Combined knee loading states that generate high anterior cruciate ligament forces , 1995, Journal of orthopaedic research : official publication of the Orthopaedic Research Society.

[17]  K. Shelbourne,et al.  Correlation of the intercondylar notch width of the femur to the width of the anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments , 1999, Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy.

[18]  Jess H. Lonner,et al.  Anthropomorphic Differences Between the Distal Femora of Men and Women , 2008, Clinical orthopaedics and related research.

[19]  Thomas P Andriacchi,et al.  Secondary motions of the knee during weight bearing and non‐weight bearing activities , 2004, Journal of orthopaedic research : official publication of the Orthopaedic Research Society.

[20]  T. Hewett,et al.  Noncontact anterior cruciate ligament injuries: risk factors and prevention strategies. , 2000, The Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.

[21]  Roger C Haut,et al.  Anterior cruciate ligament injury induced by internal tibial torsion or tibiofemoral compression. , 2008, Journal of biomechanics.

[22]  Sharmila Majumdar,et al.  Three-dimensional in vivo patellofemoral kinematics and contact area of anterior cruciate ligament-deficient and -reconstructed subjects using magnetic resonance imaging. , 2009, Arthroscopy : the journal of arthroscopic & related surgery : official publication of the Arthroscopy Association of North America and the International Arthroscopy Association.

[23]  M. Axe,et al.  1998 Basmajian Student Award Paper: Movement patterns after anterior cruciate ligament injury: a comparison of patients who compensate well for the injury and those who require operative stabilization. , 1998, Journal of electromyography and kinesiology : official journal of the International Society of Electrophysiological Kinesiology.

[24]  C. Olcott,et al.  The Ranawat Award. Femoral component rotation during total knee arthroplasty. , 1999, Clinical orthopaedics and related research.

[25]  Fang Liu,et al.  New fluoroscopic imaging technique for investigation of 6DOF knee kinematics during treadmill gait , 2009, Journal of orthopaedic surgery and research.

[26]  Javad Hashemi,et al.  Re: Sex-based differences in the anthropometric characteristics of the anterior cruciate ligament and its relation to intercondylar notch geometry: a cadaveric study. , 2009, The American journal of sports medicine.

[27]  K. Shelbourne,et al.  The Relationship Between Intercondylar Notch Width of the Femur and the Incidence of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Tears , 1998, The American journal of sports medicine.

[28]  T. Hewett,et al.  Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries in Female Athletes , 2006, The American journal of sports medicine.

[29]  Satoshi Hamai,et al.  Dynamic activity dependence of in vivo normal knee kinematics , 2008, Journal of orthopaedic research : official publication of the Orthopaedic Research Society.

[30]  R Burgkart,et al.  Anterior cruciate ligament and intercondylar notch in the coronal oblique plane: anatomy complemented by magnetic resonance imaging in cruciate ligament-intact knees. , 1999, Arthroscopy : the journal of arthroscopic & related surgery : official publication of the Arthroscopy Association of North America and the International Arthroscopy Association.

[31]  S. Woo,et al.  Effects of Increasing Tibial Slope on the Biomechanics of the Knee , 2004, The American journal of sports medicine.

[32]  N. Stergiou,et al.  Excessive tibial rotation during high-demand activities is not restored by anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. , 2005, Arthroscopy : the journal of arthroscopic & related surgery : official publication of the Arthroscopy Association of North America and the International Arthroscopy Association.

[33]  M. Akagi,et al.  Effect of rotational alignment on patellar tracking in total knee arthroplasty. , 1999, Clinical orthopaedics and related research.

[34]  V Pinskerova,et al.  Tibiofemoral movement 2: the loaded and unloaded living knee studied by MRI. , 2000, The Journal of bone and joint surgery. British volume.

[35]  A. Anderson,et al.  Correlation of Anthropometric Measurements, Strength, Anterior Cruciate Ligament Size, and Intercondylar Notch Characteristics to Sex Differences in Anterior Cruciate Ligament Tear Rates , 2001, The American journal of sports medicine.

[36]  E S Grood,et al.  A joint coordinate system for the clinical description of three-dimensional motions: application to the knee. , 1983, Journal of biomechanical engineering.

[37]  Y Hirasawa,et al.  Computed tomography measurement of the surgical and clinical transepicondylar axis of the distal femur in osteoarthritic knees. , 2001, The Journal of arthroplasty.

[38]  Leslie J. Bisson,et al.  Axial and sagittal knee geometry as a risk factor for noncontact anterior cruciate ligament tear: a case-control study. , 2010, Arthroscopy : the journal of arthroscopic & related surgery : official publication of the Arthroscopy Association of North America and the International Arthroscopy Association.

[39]  T. Gill,et al.  Tibiofemoral and Patellofemoral Kinematics After Reconstruction of an Isolated Posterior Cruciate Ligament Injury , 2009, The American journal of sports medicine.

[40]  H. Rubash,et al.  Sensitivity of the knee joint kinematics calculation to selection of flexion axes. , 2004, Journal of biomechanics.

[41]  J. Kvist.  Sagittal Plane Translation during Level Walking in Poor-Functioning and Well-Functioning Patients with Anterior Cruciate Ligament Deficiency , 2004, The American journal of sports medicine.

[42]  Harry E Rubash,et al.  Gender differences in trochlear groove orientation and rotational kinematics of human knees , 2009, Journal of orthopaedic research : official publication of the Orthopaedic Research Society.

[43]  Sharmila Majumdar,et al.  MRI analysis of in vivo meniscal and tibiofemoral kinematics in ACL‐deficient and normal knees , 2006, Journal of orthopaedic research : official publication of the Orthopaedic Research Society.

[44]  Ramprasad Papannagari,et al.  In Vivo Kinematics of the Knee after Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction , 2006, The American journal of sports medicine.

[45]  M. Pierrynowski.  Determinants of patellar tracking in total knee arthroplasty , 2009 .

[46]  M. Bonnin,et al.  Tibial translation after anterior cruciate ligament rupture. Two radiological tests compared. , 1994, The Journal of bone and joint surgery. British volume.

[47]  Scott Tashman,et al.  Abnormal Rotational Knee Motion during Running after Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction , 2004, The American journal of sports medicine.

[48]  Y. Yoshioka,et al.  The anatomy and functional axes of the femur. , 1987, The Journal of bone and joint surgery. American volume.

[49]  V. Pinskerova,et al.  Tibiofemoral movement 1: the shapes and relative movements of the femur and tibia in the unloaded cadaver knee , 2000 .

[50]  S. Tashman,et al.  Dynamic Function of the ACL-reconstructed Knee during Running , 2007, Clinical orthopaedics and related research.

[51]  Javad Hashemi,et al.  The geometry of the tibial plateau and its influence on the biomechanics of the tibiofemoral joint. , 2008, The Journal of bone and joint surgery. American volume.

[52]  D. Zurakowski,et al.  Intraoperative measurements of male and female distal femurs during primary total knee arthroplasty. , 2002, The journal of knee surgery.

[53]  C. Olcott,et al.  Femoral component rotation during total knee arthroplasty , 1999 .

[54]  Johan Bellemans,et al.  An experimental model for kinematic analysis of the knee. , 2009, The Journal of bone and joint surgery. American volume.

[55]  Lazar Stijak,et al.  Is there an influence of the tibial slope of the lateral condyle on the ACL lesion? , 2008, Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy.