title: Comparative analysis of pelvic ligaments: a biomechanics study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) affects one third of women of all ages and is a major concern for gynecological surgeons. In pelvic reconstructive surgery, native ligaments are widely used as a corrective support, while their biomechanical properties are unknown. We hypothesized differences in the strength of various pelvic ligaments and therefore, aimed to evaluate and compare their biomechanical properties.
  
  
  METHODS
  Samples from the left and right broad, round, and uterosacral ligaments from 13 fresh female cadavers without pelvic organ prolapse were collected. Uniaxial tension tests at a constant rate of deformation were performed and stress-strain curves were obtained.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We observed a non-linear stress-strain relationship and a hyperelastic mechanical behavior of the tissues. The uterosacral ligaments were the most rigid whether at low or high deformation, while the round ligament was more rigid than the broad ligament.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pelvic ligaments differ in their biomechanical properties and there is fairly good evidence that the uterosacral ligaments play an important role in the maintenance of pelvic support from a biomechanical point of view.
authors: Clinique de chirurgie gynécologique, Hopital Jeanne de Flandre, Centre Hospitalier Regional Universitaire de Lille, 2, avenue Oscar Lambret, 59037, Lille Cedex, France.
authors: Géraldine
authors: G
authors: Rivaux
authors: Chrystèle
authors: C
authors: Rubod
authors: Bruno
authors: B
authors: Dedet
authors: Mathias
authors: M
authors: Brieu
authors: Boris
authors: B
authors: Gabriel
authors: Michel
authors: M
authors: Cosson
mesh_terms: D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D001956:Broad Ligament / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D002102:Cadaver; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D056887:Pelvic Organ Prolapse / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D010388:Pelvis / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D012404:Round Ligament of Uterus / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D013314:Stress, Mechanical