title: Healing of the medial collateral ligament in rats. The effects of repair, motion, and secondary stabilizing ligaments.
abstract: The effects of repair, motion, and the integrity of the secondary ligamentous restraints on healing of the medial collateral ligament were studied in a rat model. Healing was assessed by measuring ligamentous laxity and tensile strength. All healing ligaments were weaker and more lax than their controls. Repair did not have a statistically significant effect on the laxity or the strength of the medial collateral ligament. Allowing active motion had a statistically significant beneficial effect on the strength of the medial collateral ligament. Stability was adversely affected by active motion if the secondary restraints had been transected; however, when the secondary ligamentous restraints were intact, active motion was beneficial and immobilization was harmful.
authors: Department of Surgery, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
authors: D P
authors: DP
authors: Hart
authors: L E
authors: LE
authors: Dahners
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D007103:Immobilization; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D008023:Ligaments, Articular / Q000293:injuries / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D009068:Movement; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D014945:Wound Healing