Static rotational knee laxity measurements. In Rotatory knee instability: An evidence based approach. (Book Chapter)

Static rotational knee laxity measurements have the advantages of precisely quantifying laxity and are thus potentially more objective than manual tests. Moreover, they can help to establish the diagnosis of knee injuries and to evaluate the success of reconstruction procedures after surgical intervention. As a consequence, they may systematically be part of follow-up to knee injuries (i.e. anterior cruciate ligament injuries). Numerous devices to measure knee rotation in a non-invasive manner exist. Although further efforts are necessary to improve the use of rotational laxity measurements in daily clinical practice, existing data on static rotational knee laxity measurements is encouraging to further investigate it in healthy and injured persons. Rotational knee laxity measurements allow (1) for the evaluation of the physiological knee laxity as a risk factor for knee injuries and poor reconstruction outcomes, (2) for the diagnosis of knee injuries (i.e. anterior cruciate ligament injuries) and (3) to follow knee ligament reconstructions postoperatively. The lack of knowledge of rotational knee laxity measurements in injured/reconstructed knees, however, prevents us to conclude the best treatment or reconstruction techniques. The present chapter aims to analyse the current knowledge and the potential for rotational knee laxity measurements to follow and individualise care for knee injuries and diseases.