To describe the degree and type of disability experience by patients with combined postero-lateral corner and posterior cruciate ligament knee injuries To document any dynamic abnormalities of the lower limbs through the gait cycle using kinematic and kinetic gait analysis To identify abnormal electromyographic signals of the quadriceps, hamstring and gastrocnemius muscles through normal gait.
Significant functional disability was noted in all patients. Characteristic gait abnormalities identified included hyperextension and dynamic varus deformity with a corresponding increase in the internal valgus knee moment. Electromyographic data revealed early and prolonged contraction of the medial hamstrings and gastrocnemius muscles.
Analysis of the different phases of the gait cycle has been shown to demonstrate differences in pathological osteoarthritic gait. These differences can be quantified and their improvement following total hip arthroplasty has been shown, allowing use of gait analysis as a tool in evaluating function after total hip replacements. The purpose of this study was to determine the degree of improvement in gait attained after resurfacing hip arthroplasty. Ten patients with monoarthritic hips were evaluated using gait analysis preoperatively and 1 year postoperatively. The results indicate that there is a significant improvement in the patients gait during the first postoperative year following resurfacing arthroplasty. There is a 30% increase in the Harris Hip score, 100% increase in the velocity of walking. 51% increase in stride length, 30% improvement in the ground reaction force and 33% improvement in cadence at 1 year. These improvements in gait mirror those shown previously following Total hip arthroplasty and show that following resurfacing procedures gait parameters are comparable to able-bodied controls. We have concluded that resurfacing hip arthroplasty can greatly improve the gait characteristics of patients with unilateral degenerative hip arthritis.
