The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, Vol 75, Issue 3 377-386, Copyright © 1993 by Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, Inc

JOURNAL CONTENTS

Direct in vitro measurement of forces in the cruciate ligaments. Part I: The effect of multiplane loading in the intact knee

DC Wascher, KL Markolf, MS Shapiro and GA Finerman
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of California, Los Angeles 90024-1795.

Specially designed load-transducers that measured the resultant forces exerted by the posterior and anterior cruciate ligaments on their respective femoral and tibial insertions were applied to eighteen fresh-frozen cadaveric knees for a series of controlled loading experiments. The mean force in the posterior cruciate ligament at 5 degrees of forced hyperextension of the knee was 23 per cent of the mean force in the anterior cruciate ligament. When the knee was hyperflexed by application of 10.0 newton-meters of bending moment to the tibia, the mean force in the posterior cruciate ligament was 55 per cent of that in the anterior cruciate ligament. Quadriceps tendon pull increased the force in the posterior cruciate ligament in twelve of the fourteen specimens to which it had been applied, at 80 and 90 degrees of flexion only. The force generated in the posterior cruciate ligament by applied internal tibial torque was greatest when the knee was in 90 degrees of flexion; the force in the anterior cruciate ligament was greatest when the knee was fully extended. External tibial torque generated force in the posterior cruciate ligament in only eight specimens, and only at 80 and 90 degrees of flexion. The levels of force that were generated in the posterior cruciate ligament by applied varus and valgus bending moment were greatest at 90 degrees of flexion of the knee; the levels of force in the anterior cruciate ligament were greatest with the knee in full extension. With the knee flexed 90 degrees and the tibia in neutral rotation, fifty newtons of applied posterior tibial force increased the mean force in the posterior cruciate ligament by 58.4 newtons; at full extension, no increase in the force in the ligament was recorded, indicating that tensed capsular structures were absorbing the applied load. When the tibia was internally or externally rotated by applied tibial torque, the increases in the force in the ligament from applied posterior tibial force were sharply diminished.
CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Technorati    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				G Panics, A Tallay, A Pavlik, and I Berkes Effect of proprioception training on knee joint position sense in female team handball players Br. J. Sports Med., June 1, 2008; 42(6): 472 - 476. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. H. Lubowitz, B. J. Bernardini, and J. B. Reid III Current Concepts Review: Comprehensive Physical Examination for Instability of the Knee Am. J. Sports Med., March 1, 2008; 36(3): 577 - 594. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. Y. Griffin, M. J. Albohm, E. A. Arendt, R. Bahr, B. D. Beynnon, M. DeMaio, R. W. Dick, L. Engebretsen, W. E. Garrett Jr, J. A. Hannafin, et al. Understanding and Preventing Noncontact Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries: A Review of the Hunt Valley II Meeting, January 2005 Am. J. Sports Med., September 1, 2006; 34(9): 1512 - 1532. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. P. Arnold, N. Verdonschot, and A. van Kampen The Normal Anterior Cruciate Ligament as a Model for Tensioning Strategies in Anterior Cruciate Ligament Grafts Am. J. Sports Med., February 1, 2005; 33(2): 277 - 283. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. L. Markolf, G. O'Neill, S. R. Jackson, and D. R. McAllister Effects of Applied Quadriceps and Hamstrings Muscle Loads on Forces in the Anterior and Posterior Cruciate Ligaments Am. J. Sports Med., July 1, 2004; 32(5): 1144 - 1149. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. R. McAllister, K. L. Markolf, D. A. Oakes, C. R. Young, and J. McWilliams A Biomechanical Comparison of Tibial Inlay and Tibial Tunnel Posterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Techniques: Graft Pretension and Knee Laxity Am. J. Sports Med., May 1, 2002; 30(3): 312 - 317. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				F. R. Noyes and S. D. Barber-Westin Revision Anterior Cruciate Surgery with Use of Bone-Patellar Tendon-Bone Autogenous Grafts J. Bone Joint Surg. Am., August 1, 2001; 83(8): 1131 - 1143. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				D. C. Covey Injuries of the Posterolateral Corner of the Knee J. Bone Joint Surg. Am., January 1, 2001; 83(1): 106 - 106. [Full Text]

				D. A. Mannor, J. T. Shearn, E. S. Grood, F. R. Noyes, and M. S. Levy Two-Bundle Posterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: An In Vitro Analysis of Graft Placement and Tension Am. J. Sports Med., November 1, 2000; 28(6): 833 - 845. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. M. Howell, M. P. Wallace, M. L. Hull, and M. L. Deutsch Evaluation of the Single-Incision Arthroscopic Technique for Anterior Cruciate Ligament Replacement: A Study of Tibial Tunnel Placement, Intraoperative Graft Tension, and Stability Am. J. Sports Med., May 1, 1999; 27(3): 284 - 293. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. C. Wascher, J. R. Becker, J. G. Dexter, and F. T. Blevins Reconstruction of the Anterior and Posterior Cruciate Ligaments After Knee Dislocation : Results Using Fresh-Frozen Nonirradiated Allografts Am. J. Sports Med., March 1, 1999; 27(2): 189 - 196. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. J. Fox, C. D. Harner, M. Sakane, G. J. Carlin, and S. L.-Y. Woo Determination of the In Situ Forces in the Human Posterior Cruciate Ligament Using Robotic Technology: A Cadaveric Study Am. J. Sports Med., May 1, 1998; 26(3): 395 - 401. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. B. FRANK and D. W. JACKSON Current Concepts Review - The Science of Reconstruction of the Anterior Cruciate Ligament J. Bone Joint Surg. Am., October 1, 1997; 79(10): 1556 - 76. [Full Text]

				K. L. MARKOLF, J. R. SLAUTERBECK, K. L. ARMSTRONG, M. S. SHAPIRO, and G. A. M. FINERMAN A Biomechanical Study of Replacement of the Posterior Cruciate Ligament with a Graft. Part I: Isometry, Pre-Tension of the Graft, and Anterior-Posterior Laxity J. Bone Joint Surg. Am., March 1, 1997; 79(3): 375 - 80. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				K. L. MARKOLF, J. R. SLAUTERBECK, K. L. ARMSTRONG, M. S. SHAPIRO, and G. A. M. FINERMAN A Biomechanical Study of Replacement of the Posterior Cruciate Ligament with a Graft. Part II: Forces in the Graft Compared with Forces in the Intact Ligament J. Bone Joint Surg. Am., March 1, 1997; 79(3): 381 - 6. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				C. D. Harner, J. W. Xerogeanes, G. A. Livesay, G. J. Carlin, B. A. Smith, T. Kusayama, S. Kashiwaguchi, and S. L.-Y. Woo The Human Posterior Cruciate Ligament Complex: An Interdisciplinary Study: Ligament Morphology and Biomechanical Evaluation Am. J. Sports Med., December 1, 1995; 23(6): 736 - 745. [Abstract] [PDF]

				W. C. Burns II, L. F. Draganich, M. Pyevich, and B. Reider The Effect of Femoral Tunnel Position and Graft Tensioning Technique on Posterior Laxity of the Posterior Cruciate Ligament-Reconstructed Knee Am. J. Sports Med., July 1, 1995; 23(4): 424 - 430. [Abstract] [PDF]