[Restricted motion after surgery of the capsular ligament of the knee joint, with special reference to stability of the ligament and muscle status in isokinetic stress].

Post-operative checks of 57 cases of anterio-medial knee instability (II and III degree) were carried out over a period of 1-4 years after operation. On a questionnaire subjective feelings, complaints, and changes in living and sport habits, were documented. Thus a parameter for the functional result of treatment was created. Knee stability was evaluated by measurement of 30 degree anterior drawer displacement using the Medmetric corp. ligament measuring instrument KT1000. Strength of the thigh muscles of both legs for different power parameters under isokinetic load was measured with the Cybex II instrument system. In 51 cases a correlation between the movement deficit and the following parameters was assumed and tested by comparing the mean values in a T-test: side comparison of the anterior drawer phenomenon, power parameters of the thigh muscles for knee extension and flexion, score for the functional result. In case of extension deficit of the knee, it could be shown that the tension of the reconstructed crucial ligaments, which is expressed in the measured value of the anterior drawer displacement, is not as important from a causal point of view as has been supposed. Extension deficit had no obvious negative effects on the power development of the thigh muscle. However, movement restriction caused significant negative effects on functional result-score.