Proprioception after rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament. An objective indication of the need for surgery?

Failure of conservative treatment is the usual indication for the reconstruction of a knee with deficiency of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and this depends on subjective judgement. The ability of muscles to protect the subluxing joint by reflex contraction could provide an objective measurement. We have studied 30 patients with unilateral ACL deficiency by measuring the latency of reflex hamstring contraction.

A role for ultrasound in limb lengthening.

The distraction gap at eight sites in six patients undergoing limb lengthening was monitored by both standard radiographs and ultrasound. Using the measurements obtained we were able to assess the rate and quality of callus formation at the distraction site, something that radiographs alone do not enable one to do. We suggest that ultrasound has a valuable role to play in guaging the optimum rate of lengthening for a particular patient and commend it as a technique to complement radiographs in the follow-up of the increasing numbers of patients undergoing distraction osteogenesis.