Zunzarren G, Garet B, Vinciguerra B, Murgier J. Persistence of neuromuscular activation deficit in the lower limb at 3-years of follow-up after ACL reconstruction surgery.
Knee 2023;
43:97-105. [PMID:
37385113 DOI:
10.1016/j.knee.2023.06.006]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2023] [Revised: 05/20/2023] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Almost all patients experience neuromuscular disorders of the quadriceps after knee trauma or surgery such as anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. This phenomenon is described in literature as arthrogenic muscle inhibition (AMI). It can be detrimental to patients and cause complications. However, few studies have evaluated the long-term persistence of deficits arising from this, following ACL reconstruction.
PURPOSE
By comparing neuromuscular activation in the lower limb after ACL reconstruction with the unaffected lower limb, after more than 3-years of follow-up, this study aimed to evaluate the possible persistence of long-term deficits after surgery.
METHODS
Fifty-one patients who underwent ACL reconstruction in 2018 were included in the study, with a minimum follow-up of 3 years. The neuromuscular activation deficit was assessed using the Biarritz Activation Score-Knee (BAS-K), whose intra- and inter-observer reproducibility was also evaluated. The ACL-RSI, KOOS, SANE Leg, Tegner and IKDC scores were also evaluated.
RESULTS
The mean BAS-K score of the knee that underwent surgery was 21.8/50 versus 37.9/50 in the healthy knee (p < 0.05). The SANE leg score was 76.8/100 versus 97.6/100 (p < 0.05). The mean IKDC was 84.17 (±12.7). The mean KOOS was 86.2 (±9.2). The mean ACL-RSI was 70 (±7.9) and the Tegner score was 6.3 (±1.2). Intra- and inter-observer reproducibility was satisfactory for the BAS-K score.
CONCLUSION
We found that the neuromuscular activation deficit was high (roughly 42%) at more than 3-years of follow-up after ACL reconstruction. The deficit is not limited to the quadriceps and affects the whole limb. Our findings highlight the need for appropriate rehabilitation after ACL surgery, targeting the corticospinal level in particular.
LEVEL OF EVIDENCE III
prognostic retrospective case-control study.
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