Role of the fibula in weight-bearing

Takebe, Kyoichi; Nakagawa, Akio; Minami, Hisao; Kanazawa, Hidekazu; Hirohata, Kazushi

Affiliations

¹Associate Professor, School of Allied Medical Sciences, Kobe University, Kobe, Japan

²Hyogo Rehabilitation Center, Kobe, Japan

³Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, School of Medicine, Kobe University, Kobe, Japan

Abstract

To investigate the weight-bearing function of the fibula, weight-loading experiments were performed on autopsy specimens. With the ankle joint in neutral position, the weight distribution to the fibula amounted to 6.4%. With dorsiflexion of the ankle joint, the weight on the fibula increased. With plantar flexion of the ankle joint, the weight on the fibula decreased. Lateral and posterior loading of the tibia produced increased weight on the fibula. With eversion of the ankle joint, the weight on the fibula increased. The weight-bearing function increased with augmentation of the tibiofibular articular angle. These characteristics of the fibular weight-bearing function should be considered carefully in the treatment of the knee joint or the fibula.

Links

DOI: 10.1097/00003086-198404000-00047

PubMed: 6705357

WoS: A1984SL85800047

Ovid: 00003086-198404000-00047

History

Received: 1983-07-28

Cited Works (2)

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Cited By (23)

Year	Entry
2004	Funk JR, Crandall JR. Calculation of long bone loading using strain gauges. In: Proceedings of the 32nd International Workshop on Human Subjects for Biomechanical Research. 2004.85-102.
2003	Funk JR, Rudd RW, Kerrigan JR, Crandall JR. Analysis of tibial curvature, fibular loading, and the tibia index. In: Proceedings of the 2003 International IRCOBI Conference on the Biomechanics of Impact. September 25, 2003; Lisbon, Portugal.135-147.
2015	Takahashi Y, Asanuma H, Yanaoka T. Development of a full‐body human FE model for pedestrian crash reconstructions. In: Proceedings of the 2015 International IRCOBI Conference on the Biomechanics of Injury. September 9-11, 2015; Lyon, France.530-545.
2002	Funk JR, Rudd RW, Srinivasan SCM, King RJ, Crandall JR, Petit PY. Methodology for measuring tibial and fibular loads in a cadaver. In: Proceedings of the SAE World Congress & Exhibition. 2002; Detroit, MI. Warrendale, PA: Society of Automotive Engineers. SAE 2002-01-0682.
1996	Wang Q, Whittle M, Cunningham J, Kenwright J. Fibula and its ligaments in load transmission and ankle joint stability. Clin Orthop Relat Res. September 1996;(330):261-270.
1994	Yamaguchi K, Martin CH, Boden SD, Labropoulos PA. Operative treatment of syndesmotic disruptions without use of a syndesmotic screw: a prospective clinical study. Foot Ankle Int. August 1994;15(8):407-414.
2000	Thompson MC, Gesink DS. Biomechanical comparison of syndesmosis fixation with 3.5- and 4.5-millimeter stainless steel screws. Foot Ankle Int. September 2000;21(9):736-741.
2012	Markolf KL, Jackson S, McAllister DR. Force and displacement measurements of the distal fibula during simulated ankle loading tests for high ankle sprains. Foot Ankle Int. September 2012;33(9):779-786.
2001	Norkus SA, Floyd RT. The anatomy and mechanisms of syndesmotic ankle sprains. J Athl Train. January–March 2001;36(1):68-73.
2007	Funk JR, Rudd RW, Kerrigan JR, Crandall JR. The line of action in the tibia during axial compression of the leg. J Biomech. 2007;40(10):2277-2282.
1989	Boden SD, Labropoulos PA, McCowin P, Lestini WF, Hurwitz SR. Mechanical considerations for the syndesmosis screw: a cadaver study. J Bone Joint Surg. December 1989;71A(10):1548-1555.
1995	Xenos JS, Hopkinson WJ, Mulligan ME, Olson EJ, Popovic NA. The tibiofibular syndesmosis: evaluation of the ligamentous structures, methods of fixation, and radiographic assessment. J Bone Joint Surg. June 1995;77A(6):847-856.
1994	Peter RE, Harrington RM, Henley MB, Tencer AF. Biomechanical effects of internal fixation of the distal tibiofibular syndesmotic joint: comparison of two fixation techniques. J Orthop Trauma. June 1994;8(3):215-219.
1995	Thomas KA, Harris MB, Willis MC, Lu Y, MacEwen GD. The effects of the interosseous membrane and partial fibulectomy on loading of the tibia: a biomechanical study. Orthopedics. April 1995;18(3):373-83.
2010	Cristofolini L, Schileo E, Juszczyk M, Taddei F, Martelli S, Viceconti M. Mechanical testing of bones: the positive synergy of finite–element models and in vitro experiments. Philos Trans R Soc A-Math Phys Eng Sci. June 13, 2010;368(1920):2725-2763.
2004	Funk JR, Rudd RW, Kerrigan JR, Crandall JR. The effect of tibial curvature and fibular loading on the tibia index. Traffic Inj Prev. June 2004;5(2):164-172.
2016	Grigoriadis G. Heel Biomechanics Under Blast Conditions [PhD thesis]. Imperial College London; June 2016.
2015	Smolen C. Evaluation of the Load Path Through the Foot/ankle Complex in Various Postures Through Cadaveric and Finite Element Model Testing [Master's thesis]. Hamilton, ON: McMaster University; September 2015.
2016	Chakravarty AB. The Effects of Off-Axis Loading on Fracture Risk in the Human Tibia [Master's thesis]. Hamilton, ON: McMaster University; September 2016.
2016	Martinez AA. The Effect of Load Rate on the Axial Fracture Tolerance of the Isolated Tibia During Automotive and Military Impacts [Master's thesis]. Hamilton, ON: McMaster University; 2016.
2017	Gooding AF. Variation in Cortical Bone Distribution in the Aging Adult Appendicular Skeleton [PhD thesis]. Knoxville, University of Tennessee; December 2017.
1998	Hall GW. Biomechanical Characterization and Multibody Modeling of the Human Lower Extremity [PhD thesis]. Charlottesville, VA: University of Virginia; May 1998.
2020	Ceritano DW. Sex-Based Differences in Calcaneal Injury Tolerances Under High-Rate Loading [Master's thesis]. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University; May 22, 2020.