[A study of the tensile strength of cruciate ligaments with regard to the possibilities of prosthetic replacement (author's transl)].
Recent clinical and experimental results in the prosthetic replacement of the anterior cruciate ligament are minimal and this fact has incited us to search for additional fundamental characteristics of natural and synthetic ligaments. The dissection of over 30 human knees (5 fresh and 27 embalmed specimens), of 50 dog knees and of 20 cat knees showed that the posterior cruciate ligament was longer and of bigger size than the anterior cruciate ligament. In dogs, the anatomo-radiological study showed a lenghtening of 14,4 p. 100 for the anterior cruciate and of 10,5 p. 1u0 for the posterior cruciate ligament in the various goniometric positions. Traction with the Instron apparatus using whole knee with preserved bony attachments revealed an elastic resistance (yield point) of the ligament of about 50 kg, 60 kg and 30 kg (for human, dog and cat respectively) with elastic elongation (at the yield stress) of 25 p. 100, 35 p. 100 and 45 p. 100 (respectively). Trials on the polyethylene prosthetic ligament used at the present time for replacement of cruciate ligaments in humans showed an elastic resistance of only 16 kg with an elasticity of only 1,4 p. 100. The major differences between the physical properties of the artificial and natural ligaments that we have studied in experimental conditions incite our serious doubt as to the value for the practical use of such a prosthesis and provoque strongly the necessity of search for alternative synthetic or other material more suitable for the task in question.
D000818:Animals; D002415:Cats; D004285:Dogs; D004548:Elasticity; D006614:Hindlimb / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D008023:Ligaments, Articular / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D011095:Polyethylenes; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D013045:Species Specificity; D013718:Tensile Strength
D011095:Polyethylenes
Etude des propriétés mécaniques des ligaments croisés en vue de leur remplacement prothétique.