KNEE JOINT LIGAMENT RECONSTRUCTION: ON PRETENSION AND COUPLING IN CRUCIATE LIGAMENTS

Abstract

Wide range of knee cruciate ligament reconstruction procedures with different materials, stiffness, pretensions, orientations, and insertion locations are currently used with the primary goal to restore the joint laxity. With the general lack of success in preservation of force in the reconstructed ligament, the concern, not yet addressed, arises as to the effect of reconstruction on the other intact cruciate ligament. Using a 3-D finite element model, we examined this hypothesis by varying the pretension in each ligament under flexion ±A-P loads and quantifying the extent of coupling between cruciate ligaments. A remarkable coupling was predicted. Moreover, changes in laxity and in ligament forces as ligament pretension was altered varied with flexion and loads. These findings have important consequences in proper management and rehabilitation of the joint ligament disorders.