Article

Patients with knee osteoarthritis present an altered gait pattern.
Amongst many factors, the lower limb alignment (varus, valgus) has been
identified as an important risk factor for the progression of knee
osteoarthritis. Among the large number of studies on knee osteoarthritis gait,
only a few have included patients with a valgus deformity. The aims of this study
were to determine how knee alignment influences full-body gait in patients with
knee osteoarthritis and if knee malalignment is associated with pain and
functional capacity. METHODS: Sixty patients with severe knee osteoarthritis
scheduled for a total knee arthroplasty were included in this study. Twenty-six
subjects were recruited as the control group. The spatio-temporal parameters,
three-dimensional full-body kinematics, and lower body kinetics were evaluated
during a comfortable gait and compared between the groups. Pain and function were
assessed with the WOMAC questionnaire. FINDINGS:
The full-body gait analysis
demonstrated substantially different gait patterns and compensation mechanisms
between the three groups. Patients with varus knee alignment significantly
augmented their trunk movements in sagittal and frontal planes compared to
patients with a valgus knee. In addition, patients with a valgus knee reported
lower pain and lower functional deficits compared to patients with a varus knee.
INTERPRETATION: We found that gait compensations were significantly influenced by
lower limb alignment. These new insights related to different knee osteoarthritis
gait patterns might help in the understanding of gait compensation behaviours
prior to total knee arthroplasty and better manage the strategies of
rehabilitation following surgery.
CI - Copyright (c) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS