The effects of flexion and rotation on the length patterns of the ligaments of the knee

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Wang, Ching-Jen¹; Walker, Peter S.¹; Wolf, Barry²

The effects of flexion and rotation on the length patterns of the ligaments of the knee

J Biomech. November 1973;6(6):587-596

Affiliations

¹Hospital for Special Surgery, 535 East 70 Street, New York 10021, U.S.A.

²School of Mechanical Engineering, New York University, Bronx, New York, U.S.A.
Abstract

Measurements have been made of the lengths of the ligaments in human knee joint specimens. The ligaments considered were the lateral collateral, medial collateral, anterior cruciate and posterior cruciate. The ligament length patterns were determined for twelve specimens at flexions of 0, 30, 60, 90 and 120°, in neutral, internal rotation and external rotation at each angle. The collateral ligaments steadily diminished by about 20 per cent in length from 0 to 120° flexion, rotation having little effect. The anterior cruciate gradually increased 10 per cent from 0 to 120° flexion and the posterior cruciate, was 10 per cent longer at 0° flexion than at all other angles for which length was constant. The action of the cruciates was therefore somewhat reciprocal. Rotation had a significant effect on cruciate lengths, affecting the anterior more than the posterior cruciate. Computations were made of the change in length of the anterior and posterior fibres of each cruciate ligament, in relation to the central fibres. Reciprocal functions between fibres were demonstrated.
Links

DOI: 10.1016/0021-9290(73)90016-X

PubMed: 4757478

WoS: A1973R299900001
History

Received: 1973-04-17

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2011	Jones CDS, Grimshaw PN. The biomechanics of the anterior cruciate ligament and its reconstruction. In: Klika V, ed. Theoretical Biomechanics. InTech; 2011:361-384.
1990	Butler DL, Guan Y. Biomechanics of the anterior cruciate ligament and its replacements. In: Mow VC, Ratcliffe A, Woo SL-Y, eds. Biomechanics of Diarthrodial Joints. Vol 1. New York, NY: Springer-Verlag; 1990:105-154.
1990	Huiskes R, Blankevoort L. The relationship between knee motion and articular surface geometry. In: Mow VC, Ratcliffe A, Woo SL-Y, eds. Biomechanics of Diarthrodial Joints. Vol 2. New York, NY: Springer-Verlag; 1990:269-286.
2002	Bose D, Sanghavi P, Kerrigan JR, Madeley NJ, Bhalla KS, Crandall JR. Material characterization of ligaments using non-contact strain measurement and digitization. In: Proceedings of the 30th International Workshop on Human Subjects for Biomechanical Research. November 2002; Ponte Vedra Beach, FL.183-194.
2012	Desai C, Sharma G, Shah P, Ageorges h, Mayer C, Fressmann D. A generic positioning tool for human body FE models. In: Proceedings of the 2012 International IRCOBI Conference on the Biomechanics of Injury. September 12-14, 2012; Dublin, Ireland.610-621.
1976	Trent PS, Walker PS, Wolf B. Ligament length patterns, strength, and rotational axes of the knee joint. Clin Orthop Relat Res. June 1976;117:263-270.
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1986	Bylski DI. In Situ Measurement of Meniscal Mechanics in Human Knee Joints [PhD thesis]. University of Michigan; 1986.
2002	Gardiner JC. Computational Modeling of Ligament Mechanics [PhD thesis]. University of Utah; May 2002.
2012	Reese SP. Multiscale Structure-Function Relationships in the Mechanical Behavior of Tendon and Ligament [PhD thesis]. University of Utah; May 2012.
1994	Ziegler JM. A Dynamic Computational Model of the Human Knee Joint With Implementation in Two Optimal Control Models [PhD thesis]. University of Texas at Austin; August 1994.