Effect of medial meniscectomy on gait parameters

Abstract

The aim of this study is to determine how selected gait parameters may change as a result of medial meniscectomy at constant gait speed. Gait analysis using a ZEBRIS ultrasound based three-dimensional motion analysis system was performed in 24 patients who had undergone medial meniscectomy 18 months before the gait analysis. The constant gait speed was 3.5 km/h. Muscle activity was measured by the surface EMG system connected to the system. The muscle groups involved in the tests included (1) m. vastus medialis and (2) lateralis, (3) rectus femoris, (4) m. biceps femoris, (4) m. adductor longus, (5) m. gluteus medius, (6) m. gastrocnemius medialis and (7) lateralis. The spatial-temporal, angular parameters and intermuscular coordination determined are compared to the gait parameters of 51 healthy subjects. The study showed that medial meniscectomy resulted in a change of limb dominance; reduced knee joint motion was compensated by the increased motion of other joints in the kinematic chain-hip joint of the opposite side, pelvic obliquity-and the gait (spatial-temporal parameters) was symmetrical, with no significant differences compared to spatial-temporal parameters of healthy groups. Our study showed that the medial meniscectomy could result in adductor-free gait and reduce the rotation motion of the pelvis.