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Knee biomechanics early after knee replacement surgery predict abnormal gait patterns 12 months postoperatively
Author(s) -
Levinger Pazit,
Menz Hylton B.,
Morrow Adam D.,
Perrott Margaret A.,
Bartlett John R.,
Feller Julian A.,
Bergman Neil B.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
journal of orthopaedic research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.041
H-Index - 155
eISSN - 1554-527X
pISSN - 0736-0266
DOI - 10.1002/jor.21545
Subject(s) - gait , medicine , gait analysis , biomechanics , orthopedic surgery , physical medicine and rehabilitation , surgery , physical therapy , anatomy
An abnormal flexor moment pattern is often evident following total knee replacement (TKR) surgery. We investigated whether such a pattern at 12 months post‐surgery could be predicted using biomechanical gait measures assessed before surgery and at 4 months post‐surgery. Thirty two TKR patients were evaluated and classified as normal (biphasic pattern) or abnormal (flexor moment pattern) at each time point. Biomechanical parameters collected before surgery and at 4 months post‐surgery were then explored for their ability to predict gait patterns at 12 months post‐surgery. The gait pattern at 4 months was significantly associated with the 12 month post‐surgery gait pattern, with over half of those with a flexor moment pattern at 4 months retaining this pattern at 12 months. Discriminant function analysis indicated that peak knee flexion during early stance, peak knee extension, and peak knee extension moment at 4 months post‐surgery were independent predictors of the gait pattern at 12 months. Thus, an abnormal knee flexor moment pattern at 12 months post‐surgery can be predicted by biomechanical analysis 4 months after surgery. Therefore, interventions aimed at improving active extension may need to be implemented early after surgery to restore a normal gait pattern. © 2011 Orthopaedic Research Society Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 30:371–376, 2012