[The three-dimensional pattern of the pelvis movement in standarized gait cycle in patients before and after knee arthroplasty--leading article].

The main goal of this study was to estimate the influence of knee arthroplasty on angular changes of pelvis movement in three planes. The three-dimensional analysis of locomotion was carried out with 13 patients afer total knee replacement aged 47-74, using Vicon system. The first examination took place before knee operation and the second examination 6 months after arthroplasty. The results were represented at the background of biomechanical gait parameters of 30 healthy people aged 50-70. The angular changes of pelvis movement in each gait phase were taken into consideration. After knee arthroplasty the results of patients examinations were similar to the biomechanical norm in sagittal and transversal plane. In the sagittal plane the difference between the results of the first and the second research was 15 degrees. The first examination of pelvis movement in transversal plane showed that the distinction between patients results and biomechanical norm was 17 degrees in initial contact and terminal swing; after total knee replacement the movement amplitude was similar to the biomechanical norm. The biggest change of the hip joint movement after knee replacement was noticeable in transversal plane but there was only slight improvement in sagittal and frontal plane. There was also noticeable change in the knee movement in frontal plane and the results of the two research sessions in sagittal and transversal plane was similar to the biomechanical norm.