Inter-rater reliability of Rolimeter measurements between anterior cruciate ligament injured and normal contra lateral knees

Abstract

The Rolimeter device can provide measurements of anterior/posterior tibial displacement using maximal manual force. The Rolimeter reliability is still under research when used as an independent knee tester. The purpose of this study is to determine the inter-rater reliability of the Rolimeter measurements between anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injured and normal contra lateral knees. Twelve male patients with ACL deficiency participated in this study. Three physical therapists (PT) performed the Rolimeter measurements in supine position with an approximate 25 degrees flexion of the knees. Each therapist performed three trials on each knee and the difference in results in millimeters between injured knee and normal contra lateral knee was determined. Spearman's rho correlations showed weak relationships between the PT 1, 3 and 2, 3 (PT 1 vs. PT 3 r=0.55, PT 2 vs. PT 3 r=0.57) and the high relation between 1, 2 (PT 1 vs. PT 2 r=0.96) of Rolimeter measurements. Intraclass correlation coefficient showed no significant reliability coefficients among the three PT Rolimeter measurements between ACL injured and normal contra lateral knees (R=0.24, p=0.05). These results reflect the variations among the means of the three physical therapists' Rolimeter measurements between ACL injured and normal contra lateral knees.

Anterior cruciate ligament assessment using arthrometry and stress imaging

“…Muellner found reliability of 0.71-0.90 in experienced testers, but worse in novices [57]. Papandreou found varying interrater reliability of 0.55-0.96, which they attributed to the inherent subjectivity of the testing method [58].…”

“…Several groups have published their results, ranging from 0.24, 0.55-0.72, to 0.49-1.0 [57][58][59]. Again, investigators cited inherent subjectivity in explaining this variability.…”

Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System for Classification of ACL-Ruptured Knees Using Arthrometric Data

“…1,5,7,[9][10][11][12][13]23,28,30,34,37 However, the appropriate diagnosis criterion to differentiate the arthrometric data of the injured knees from the normal knee is still controversial. Considering the significant difference between the anterior laxity of the normal and injured knees, 1,[7][8][9]11,12,21,23,25,28,30,37 a single leg absolute threshold has been proposed by some researchers. 21 This criterion has not been generally acknowledged, however, due to the high variability of anterior laxity between subjects.…”

A Novel Measure of In-Vivo Knee Joint Laxity

“…The accuracy and reliability of these devices (Table 2-1) has been assessed extensively (Anderson and Lipscomb, 1989;Anderson, et al, 1992;Cannon, 2002;Highgenboten, et al, 1989;Huber, et al, 1997;Papandreou, et al, 2005). Most of these studies rely on comparisons between arthrometers or repeatability studies for validation, rather than determining accuracy with respect to a 'gold standard' measurement device.…”

“…This includes measuring varus-valgus, pivot shift, and recurvatum (Highgenboten, et al, 1989). The testing procedure for measuring anterior-posterior knee laxity with this device, as summarized here, was originally described in Highgenboten et al (1989 to the tibia with a rubber strap (Papandreou, et al, 2005). The two pads are connected 27 approximately 5cm above the limb by a calibrated steel bar.…”