Quantifying in vivo laxity in the anterior cruciate ligament and individual knee joint structures. Issue 14 (25th October 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Westover, L. M.; Sinaei, N.; Küpper, J. C.; Ronsky, J. L.
• Is Part Of: Computer methods in biomechanics and biomedical engineering. Volume 19:Issue 14(2016)
• Page Start: 1567
• Page End: 1577
• Publication Date: 2016-10-25
• Subjects: Knee joint -- passive laxity -- anterior cruciate ligament -- numerical modelling; Biomechanics -- Data processing -- Periodicals; Biomedical engineering -- Periodicals; Biomechanics -- Periodicals; Biomedical Engineering -- methods -- Periodicals; Computing Methodologies -- Periodicals; 612.7
• DOI: 10.1080/10255842.2016.1170122
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1025-5842

Abstract

Abstract : A custom knee loading apparatus (KLA), when used in conjunction with magnetic resonance imaging, enables in vivo measurement of the gross anterior laxity of the knee joint. A numerical model was applied to the KLA to understand the contribution of the individual joint structures and to estimate the stiffness of the anterior-cruciate ligament (ACL). The model was evaluated with a cadaveric study using an in situ knee loading apparatus and an ElectroForce test system. A constrained optimization solution technique was able to predict the restraining forces within the soft-tissue structures and joint contact. The numerical model presented here allowed in vivo prediction of the material stiffness parameters of the ACL in response to applied anterior loading. Promising results were obtained for in vivo load sharing within the structures. The numerical model overestimated the ACL forces by 27.61–92.71%. This study presents a novel approach to estimate ligament stiffness and provides the basis to develop a robust and accurate measure of in vivo knee joint laxity.