Determination of the In Situ Forces in the Human Posterior Cruciate Ligament Using Robotic Technology
- 1 May 1998
- journal article
- research article
- Published by SAGE Publications in The American Journal of Sports Medicine
- Vol. 26 (3), 395-401
- https://doi.org/10.1177/03635465980260030901
Abstract
We examined the in situ forces in the posterior cruciate ligament as well as the force distribution between its anterolateral and posteromedial bundles. Using a robotic manipulator in conjunction with a universal force-moment sensor system, we applied posterior tibial loads from 22 to 110 N to the joint at 0° to 90° of knee flexion. The magnitude of the in situ force in the posterior cruciate ligament and its bundles was significantly affected by knee flexion angle and posterior tibial loading. In situ forces in the posterior cruciate ligament ranged from 6.1 6.0 N under a 22-N posterior tibial load at 0° of knee flexion to 112.3 28.5 N under a 110-N load at 90°. The force in the posteromedial bundle reached a maximum of 67.9 31.5 N at 90° of knee flexion, and the force in the anterolateral bundle reached a maximum of 47.8 23.0 N at 60° of knee flexion under a 110-N load. No significant differences existed between the in situ forces in the two bundles at any knee flexion angle. This study provides insight into the knee flexion angle at which each bundle of the posterior cruciate ligament experiences the highest in situ forces under posterior tibial loading. This information can help guide us in more accurate graft placement, fixation, and tensioning, and serve as an assessment of graft performance.Keywords
This publication has 23 references indexed in Scilit:
- Assessment of Posterior Cruciate Ligament Graft Performance Using Robotic TechnologyThe American Journal of Sports Medicine, 1996
- A combined robotic/universal force sensor approach to determine in situ forces of knee ligamentsJournal of Biomechanics, 1996
- Loading of the two bundles of the posterior cruciate ligament: An analysis of bundle function in A-P drawerJournal of Biomechanics, 1996
- In Vitro Study of Knee Stability After Posterior Cruciate Ligament ReconstructionClinical Orthopaedics and Related Research, 1996
- Nonoperatively treated isolated posterior cruciate ligament injuriesThe American Journal of Sports Medicine, 1993
- Tensions in the anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments of the knee during passive loading: Predicting ligament loads from in situ measurementsJournal of Orthopaedic Research, 1991
- Design and Performance of a Modified Buckle Transducer for the Measurement of Ligament TensionJournal of Biomechanical Engineering, 1986
- Simultaneous quantitation of knee ligament forcesJournal of Biomechanics, 1983
- A Note on the Application and Evaluation of the Buckle Transducer for Knee Ligament Force MeasurementJournal of Biomechanical Engineering, 1982
- Performance of an athlete with straight posterior knee instabilityThe American Journal of Sports Medicine, 1981