Influences of Differences of Age, Gender, and Recurvatum on Measurement of Anterior Laxity with KT-2000 Knee Arthrometer

Abstract

Although knee laxity has generally been evaluated using KT-2000 knee arthrometer, few studies have paid attention to subjects' age, gender, and recurvatum. The purpose of this study was to clarify the influences of those factors. We measured the anterior-posterior displacement of the knee of 134 healthy subjects (218 knees) with KT-2000 knee arthrometer. The subjects (218 knees) were classified into ten groups according to age and sex. The laxity was decreased with age in women, but not in men. Women of twenties showed more significant anterior displacement compared men of the same age, but there was no gender difference in other age groups. The analysis of the non-injured knees of patients with ACL injury revealed that back-knees (10 knees). had greater laxity than the joint without hyperextension (10 knees). These results indicate that age, gender, and range of extension should be considered in the evaluation of the laxity of injured or reconstructed knee.