[Electromyography studies of surgically managed knee ligament ruptures. A retrospective analysis of defined injury patterns].

Abstract

In 52 patients (5 groups, average age 32.8 years) with operative treatment of knee ligament injuries cutaneous electromyograms (EMG) under dynamic and isometric conditions (100 N, 200 N, 300 N) were performed in an average of 61.2 weeks postoperatively. The subgroups consisted of 13 patients with operative reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), 12 after reconstruction of the medial collateral ligament (MCL), 21 after combined ACL and MCL reconstruction and 6 patients with autologous or alloplastic ligament replacement, respectively. The control group consisted of seventeen young adults without a history of knee joint injuries. The intensified and filtered analogous signals of 8 investigated thigh muscles were digitalized and analysed with help of a specially developed computer program. In summary, group specific EMG-criteria reveal distinct ligamentomuscular inhibitory reflexes and, vice versa, EMG activities of thigh muscles may indicate tendencies for group specific criterion after operatively treated knee ligament injuries.