title: Measurement of stress-strain relationship and stress relaxation in various synthetic ligaments.
abstract: In an experimental study various synthetic augmentation devices for knee ligament surgery were tested in a servo-mechanical universal tensile testing machine under uniaxial loading. Two tests were done to elucidate the mechanical behaviour: stress relaxation and stress-strain relationship. Regarding the point of failure or rupture, the strongest ligament was the Trevira at 1800 N, followed by the 8-mm-wide Kennedy LAD at 1720 N. At a working load of 500 N the Gore-tex band, the Trevira, and the Kennedy-LAD stretched by between 2% and 3%. For synthetic augmentation in repair of proximally ruptured anterior cruciate ligaments we recommend a synthetic ligament that reaches failure point at a load of more than 1000 N with an alteration in length of less than 5%. Otherwise, stress protection of the biological reconstruction in full extension will be impossible. The requisite criteria were fulfilled by the Trevira, Kennedy-LAD and Gore-tex synthetic ligaments.
authors.affiliation: Department of Traumatology, University of Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kdolsky
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Reihsner
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schabus
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Beer
mesh_terms: D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006801:Humans; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D008023:Ligaments, Articular / Q000293:injuries; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D013314:Stress, Mechanical