title: The structural properties of the lateral retinaculum and capsular complex of the knee.
abstract: Although lateral retinacular releases are not uncommon, there is very little scientific knowledge about the properties of these tissues, on which to base a rationale for the surgery. We hypothesised that we could identify specific tissue bands and measure their structural properties. Eight fresh-frozen knees were dissected, and the lateral soft tissues prepared into three distinct structures: a broad tissue band linking the iliotibial band (ITB) to the patella, and two capsular ligaments: patellofemoral and patellomeniscal. These were individually tensile tested to failure by gripping the patella in a vice jaw and the soft tissues in a freezing clamp.
  
  
  RESULTS
  the ITB-patellar band was strongest, at a mean of 582N, and stiffest, at 97 N/mm. The patellofemoral ligament failed at 172 N with 16 N/mm stiffness; the patellomeniscal ligament failed at 85 N, with 13N/mm stiffness. These structural properties suggest that most of the load in-vivo is transmitted to the patella by the transverse fibres that originate from the ITB.
authors: Musculoskeletal Surgery Department, Imperial College London, Charing Cross Hospital, London, UK.
authors: Azhar M
authors: AM
authors: Merican
authors: Sanjay
authors: S
authors: Sanghavi
authors: Farhad
authors: F
authors: Iranpour
authors: Andrew A
authors: AA
authors: Amis
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003198:Computer Simulation; D055119:Elastic Modulus / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017746:Joint Capsule / Q000502:physiology*; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008954:Models, Biological; D017847:Patellar Ligament / Q000502:physiology*; D013718:Tensile Strength