Experimental evaluation of 3-dimensional kinematic behavior of the cruciate ligaments

Avaliação experimental do comportamento cinemático tridimensional dos ligamentos cruzados

BASIC RESEARCH

Experimental evaluation of 3-dimensional kinematic behavior of the cruciate ligaments

Avaliação experimental do comportamento cinemático tridimensional dos ligamentos cruzados

Silvio Antonio Garbelotti Júnior^I; Osvaldo Pelozo Júnior^I; Rogério Pedreschi Caldana^II; Amâncio Ramalho J^rI; Ricardo Luiz Smith^I

^IFederal University of São Paulo Morphology, São Paulo, SP, Brazil

^IIFederal University of São Paulo Department Image Diagnostic, SP, Brazil. Email: [e-mail]

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate a low-cost and easily reproducible technique for biomechanical studies in cadavers. In this kind of study, the natural effect of loading of the joint and shear forces are not taken into account. The objective is to describe the plastic deformation of the ligaments into 3-dimensional space.

METHOD: For 18 intact human cadaver knees, the cruciate ligaments were divided into 3 fiber bundles, the tibial or femoral fixation points were marked, and 2 perpendicular different x-ray exposures were performed, thus obtaining radiographs of spatial projections of the bundle in 3 anatomic planes (frontal, sagittal, and transversal). From the measurements made on the x-ray films, we obtained the average distance between the 2 fixation points of the cruciate ligaments on the tibia and the femur at 4 different flexion angles.

RESULTS: The distance between the fixation points of the medial and lateral fiber bundles of the cruciate ligaments did not change significantly during movement. There were, however, significant variations (P < .05) in the distance between the fixation points of the posterior fiber bundles of the anterior cruciate ligament and the anterior fiber bundles of the posterior cruciate ligament.

CONCLUSIONS: This technique was efficient for demonstrating the plastic deformability of the cruciate ligaments. The results proceeding from this type of study can assist in the planning of physical rehabilitation programs.

Key-words: Anatomy. Biomechanics. Knee. Fiber bundles. Plastic deformability.

RESUMO

OBJETIVO: Este trabalho sugere uma técnica de baixo custo e de fácil reprodutibilidade para o estudo biomecânico em cadáveres. Neste tipo de estudo os efeitos das cargas naturais na articulação não são estudados. O objetivo é descrever a deformação plástica dos ligamentos no espaço tridimensional.

MÉTODO: 18 joelhos provenientes de cadáveres humanos tiveram seus ligamentos cruzados divididos em três feixes de fibras cada e suas respectivas fixações tibiais e femorais marcadas, quando foram submetidos a duas exposições radiográficas perpendiculares para podermos obter uma projeção dos ligamentos nos três planos anatômicos (frontal, sagital e transversal). Através das medidas feitas nas radiografias nós obtivemos a média da distância entre os pontos de fixação na tíbia e no fêmur em quatro diferentes graus de flexão.

RESULTADOS: Analisando os dados nós observamos que a distância entre os pontos de fixação dos feixes medial e lateral de ambos os ligamentos cruzados não alterou de forma significativa durante o movimento. Contudo, houve variação significativa (p>0.05) na distância entre os pontos de fixação do feixe posterior do ligamento cruzado anterior e do feixe anterior do ligamento cruzado posterior.

CONCLUSÕES: A técnica foi eficiente ao demonstrar a deformação plástica dos ligamentos cruzados. Os resultados provenientes deste tipo de estudo podem auxiliar no planejamento de programas de reabilitação física.

Unitermos: Anatomia. Biomecânica. Joelho. Feixe de Fibras. Deformação Plástica.

INTRODUCTION

In the general literature, one finds simplistic and limited descriptions of the function of the cruciate ligaments, explaining that the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) restrains posterior displacement of femur during leg extension, and the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) restrains anterior displacement of femur during leg flexion in a close kinetic chain. However, since Brantigan & Voshell¹ described the cruciate ligaments as being formed by 2 functionally independent subdivisions, called fiber bundles (1 anterior and 1 posterior), several other researchers such as Girgis et al² have directed their efforts to describing the functional behavior of these fiber bundles.

Because of the variation of the insertion points of the fiber bundles, the cruciate ligaments can stabilize the articulation simultaneously in several different directions during knee movement.

For Fuss^3,4 and Mommersteeg et al,⁵ it is evident that the state of tension of a ligament being constant or variable depends on the distance between its bone insertions points, such as collagen fibers that only tension when the distance between insertion points increases. These researchers consider this to be the key point for a functional description of cruciate ligaments. The plasticity of both cruciate ligaments is sensitive to attachment site position,⁶ principally on the femur, and this factor emphasizes the importance of the anatomical and biomechanical precepts during cruciate ligament reconstruction procedures.

Several techniques for the biomechanical study of the cruciate ligament have been described. Some researchers have reconstructed the cruciate ligaments using literature based on theoretical computerized models.^7,8 Others have evaluated the resistance of cruciate ligaments by means of variable linear displacement transducers.⁹ A universal force sensor placed in cadaver knees was used to describe the function of the ligaments or graft placement in various knee joint degrees of freedom.^10-13

The purpose of this study was to evaluate a low-cost and easily reproducible technique for biomechanical study in cadaver subjects. In this kind of study, the natural effect of loading of the joint and shear forces is not taken into account. The objective is to describe the plastic deformation of the ligaments in 3-dimensional space. Using a technique involving x-ray films, the present study evaluates the behavior of the fiber bundles of the ACL and the PCL in 4 different positions of articulation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this study, 18 intact, human, adult, male, cadaver knees, free from degenerative diseases, with their surrounding soft tissues, were cut at the proximal third of the tibia and the distal third of the femur. Dissection was performed to preserve the lateral, medial, and posterior part of the joint capsule, menisci, collateral ligaments, patellar tendon, and cruciate ligaments. The external structures were folded back to obtain better intra-articular access. For better visualization of the structures, the femur was divided into 2 parts along the sagittal plane, and the sinovial ligament covering membrane was removed. Then, the femur was connected by previously arranged screws. The tibial insertion points were defined as having a triangular form, which through their vertices determined 3 fiber bundles for each ligament., Lateral, medial, and posterior fiber bundles were observed for the ACL; and lateral, medial, and anterior fiber bundles were observed for the PCL.

To identify the fiber bundles in the x-ray films, the tibia and femur insertion points were differentiated by means of metal pins of different lengths.

Radiographic Examination

This study included x-ray examination of the samples for evaluation of the tibia and femur insertion points of the cruciate ligaments. A Medicor Röntgen Emerix ^® UV-56 machine was used to produce the x-ray films.

The knees were positioned in a holding device and fixed by means of a metal pin through the center of the device so as to maintain a 90° angle with respect to the base, allowing free femur movement.

Starting the extension movement at 0°, measurements at 30°, 60°, and 90° were effected by means of an international standard goniometer.

For each flexing position, we obtained 2 perpendicular exposures (lateral and frontal) to account for the 3 projections of the fiber bundles at the frontal, sagittal, and transversal planes (Figures 1 and ³). A support with a perfect square basis, where the tibia was fixed in a central shaft, guaranteed the correct positioning of the knee opposite the x-ray machine for perpendicular orthogonal images. To avoid discrepancies between images, the distance between the samples, film, and x-ray source was kept constant.

Analysis of the images

We obtained x-ray films of samples placed in a horizontal plane at 0, 30°, 60°, and 90° flexion positions. For each of these positions, images of 2 perpendicular orthogonal incidences (anterior-posterior and latero-lateral) were obtained.

Initially, for all x-ray films, we drew a longitudinal anatomical axis of the tibia. Immediately and in continuation, for the x-ray films with anterior-posterior exposure, vertically to the longitudinal axis of the tibia, we drew a horizontal axis that would accumulate the values for x coordinate. Related to this axis we drew a second vertical axis representing the y coordinates. For the x-ray films with latero-lateral (profile) exposure perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the tibia, we drew a horizontal axis that would accumulate the z coordinates. In relation to this axis, we drew a second vertical axis that would again represent the y coordinates (Figures 1 to 4).

Thus, on the x, y, and z axes, we could project all straight lines uniting the tibial-femoral fixation points (tibia-femur segments = TF) representing the fiber bundles in the horizontal and vertical planes, respectively, perpendicular and parallel to longitudinal anatomical axis of the tibia (Figures 2 and 4). Then we measured the horizontal and vertical projections of the fiber bundles of both cruciate ligaments on 3 orthogonal axes, furnishing 6 coordinates for each fiber bundle for each angular situation. To define the coordinates and to avoid bias, we considered the average of 3 nonsequential measurements.

The length of the projections was obtained by the difference of the pairs between the measurements of the coordinates represented by the x, y, and z axes. Length X was the result of the difference between coordinates x₂ -x₁; length Y was the result of the difference between coordinates y₂ - y₁, and length Z was the difference between coordinates z₂ - z₁.

Using this dimensional data in a trigonometric calculation applying the Pythagoras theorem, we determined the distance between fixation points of the ACL and PCL fiber bundles in 4 different positions.

We used Microsoft Excel^® 7.0 for the ordered and sequential calculation of the segment lengths (TF) according to the following equation:

where, X is the measure of the horizontal projection of the ligament fiber bundle, Y is the measure of the vertical projection of the anterior-posterior and latero-lateral x-ray exposure, and Z is the measure of the horizontal projection, also in the latero-lateral x-ray exposure.

This data supplied the arithmetical average length of the tibia-femur segments (TF).

Statistical Analysis

The chi-square test was used to analyze the degree of independence between the variables. For comparison between the averages of 1 fiber bundle during the articulate excursion, with the purpose to analyze the significance of the variation during the progress of a movement, we used Fisher's exact test.

RESULTS

The main aspect of the analysis of the results was the changes of length of the cruciate ligaments through the variation of the actual length of each of the fiber bundle, emphasizing that the measurements listed are 3-dimensional.

The most evident results showed that the posterior fiber bundle of the ACL, the length of which varied around 26.61 ± 2.67 mm, and the anterior fiber bundle of the PCL, which had an average length of 27.91 ± 5.24 mm, were the fiber bundles that underwent the largest length change, an average of 6.09 mm (P < .05) and 11.81 mm (P < .05), respectively. These changes were considered significant, the posterior fiber bundle of the ACL presented the biggest length change as a consequence of being the highest tensed at the 0° position. In compensation, the anterior fiber bundle of the PCL presented its biggest length as a consequence of its highest tension at 90° of flexion.

Also evident was that the medial and lateral fiber bundles of the anterior and PCLs practically maintain their length during the flexion movement. The dimensional changes were not statistically significant.

All results obtained regarding the averages of the lengths (mm) of each fiber bundle forming the cruciate ligaments during flexion at 0, 30°, 60° and 90° are listed in Table 1. The graphic representations of the variations of the length measurements in relation to the flexion angles are shown in Figures 5 and 6 for the anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments, respectively.

DISCUSSION

We found incompatible data in the literature regarding the fiber bundles of the cruciate ligaments, mainly because of the different techniques used for the dissection and preparation of the anatomical samples. Amis & Dawkins¹⁴ affirmed that the use of the instruments for dissection in the separation of the fiber bundles may exceed the limit of their original form. This fact may hamper the creation of a standard model for these fiber bundles. Observing this detail, we agree with Girgis et al² who maintained that there is no microscopic or macroscopic division, defending a functional division of these fiber bundles.

Contrary to authors such as Horwitz,¹⁵ who divided the cruciate ligaments into 2 bundles of fibers, but in agreement with Norwood & Cross,¹⁶ the present study confirms the cruciate ligament as possessing 3 bundles of fibers that intertwine among themselves during leg flexion.

Anterior cruciate ligament

Medial and lateral bundles (guides)

Penner et al¹² described similar data to ours for the more anterior fiber bundle of the ACL, with a final increase of 1.0 mm in the length of the fiber bundle. Livesay et al¹⁰ observed that the anterior bundle "carried higher forces" than the posterior "at both 60º and 90º," while Markolf et al¹⁷ and Sakane et al¹³ reported that this bundle was more active beyond 45º and was less active near full extension (0º). The data of Inderster et al,¹⁸ however, showed a decrease of 0.7 mm and 4.7 mm, respectively, in length of the medial and lateral fiber bundles. Although no detailed numerical data was furnished, Trent et al¹⁹ described the movement of the medial and lateral fiber bundles similar to our results. In agreement with this fact are Boisgard et al,²⁰ Bradley et al,²¹ Sakane et al,¹³ and Li et al²³ who also described an isometric pattern for these bundles. On analyzing these results, attention was called to the fact that these fiber bundles comprise a standard similar to the "guide bundle" described by Fuss,^3,4 being determined by this researcher as "the most anterior bundle of the ACL" because, as described by the researcher, these bundles remain with their length practically unchanged, giving a clear demonstration that they are important articular stabilizers in all angular moments of the movement.

Posterior fiber bundles

Sapega et al⁹ presented variations very similar to ours, mentioning that for this fiber bundle, he found a decrease of 5.4 mm in the length when the movement went from extension to flexion. A large number of the studies that we analyzed presented a standard movement similar to ours, ie, constant and decreasing,^13,22,23 although sometimes with small variations, such as in the study of Horwitz¹⁵ who reported a small initial increase (0°-30°) followed by the relaxing of the fibers up to the 90° flexion. As a counterpoint, other researchers, such as Penner et al,¹² have presented results totally contrary to those presented in our study and indicate an average increase of 8.1 mm in the total length of the posterior fiber bundle of the ACL, which has been supported by researchers such as Crowninshield et al⁷ who also described a constant elongation of these fibers during flexion. These data suggest that this bundle is more active during knee extension.

Posterior Cruciate Ligament

Lateral bundle

Our results concur with those of Inderster et al²⁴ and Li et al²³ who reported that the distance between the tibial and femur insertion increased. Starting from extension and flexing the knee to 90°, the average length was increased by only 0.98 mm. However, this bundle can be considered as being similar to the one Fuss^3,4 described as a guide bundle because it is constantly tense in all degrees of flexion. On the other hand, contrary to our data, Grood et al²⁶ reported a gradual standard slackening of the fibers.

Medial bundle

For the medial bundle of the PCL, Inderster et al²⁴ found a gradual and constant increase in fiber bundle length, mainly in the first 60°, with a 2.7-mm increase during the movement of 0° to 30°, a 2.1-mm increase from 30° to 60°, and in the last stage of the movement (60° to 90°) only a 0.7-mm increase in fiber length; in total, an increase between the points of insertion of the fiber bundles of 5.5 mm occurred. Researchers who agree with the standards indicated by our results for these fiber bundles are Crowninshield et al⁷ and Shelburne & Pandy,²⁷ although the latter reported a slight slackening of the fibers in the 30°-to-60° angular moment, and Fox et al²⁸ and Li et al²³ found a maximum tension of the bundle at 90°. On the other hand Kurosawa et al^29,30 described a slackening of the fibers in the most posterior positions, while Beynnon et al²² reported a slackening of the fibers as a unit during knee flexion, and Amis et al³¹ reported that the posterolateral and posteromedial structures tighten as the knee extends. Harner et al^32,33 indicated that this bundle plays an important role in joint stabilization after PCL reconstruction.

Anterior bundle

Regarding the anterior bundle of the PCL, Grood et al²⁶ described it with a standard distance from the femur and tibia insertion points of its fibers, showing a gradual, constant elongation. Crowninshield et al⁷ and Makris et al²⁵ found that the most anterior portion of the cruciate ligament does not undergo much length change, while Kurosawa et al³⁰ found a slight slackening of the fibers at the end of flexion (60° to 90°). Fox et al²⁸ found the highest resistance at 60°, while Beynnon et al²² and Li et al²³ found a tensioning of the ligament in its totality. Inderster et al,²⁴ when studying this fiber bundle, found a length variation of 6.3 mm in total length (0° to 90° of flexion), divided into 2.7 mm from 0° to 30°, 2.1 mm from 30° to 60°, and 1.5 mm from 60° to 90°. Our results were quite similar to those presented by these researchers, suggesting that this bundle is more active during the knee flexion, in accordance with the findings of Bach et al⁶ and Harner et al.^32,33

Therefore, we concluded that the cruciate ligaments can be divided into 2 functionally different portions. The first could be considered the base of the triangles that represent the fixation areas of the ACL and the PCL, through their medial and lateral fiber bundles. These regions are located at the more distant points from the center of the articulation. Since they are do not undergo significant variations in their lengths, they can be considered the portions responsible for maintaining the functional stability of the articulation during the whole of the movement. The second, located at the vertices of the triangles, would be the location of the posterior ACL fiber bundle and the anterior PCL fiber bundle. These areas, adjacent to the intercondilar eminence and consequently next to the center of the articulation, were those in which the most pronounced and significant variation in distance between the femur and tibia during movement occurs. From this observation, one could infer that the fiber bundles fixed on these points would be related to the progressive stabilization of the articulation, fibers being tensed in the proportion that flexion or extension of the knee occurs, in an authentic fiber-demand system.

CONCLUSIONS

This technique is efficient in demonstrating the plastic deformations of the cruciate ligaments, because the isometric patterns of the bundles cannot be observed through holistic observations and are primarily influenced by spatial orientation.

Received for publication on May 30, 2007

Accepted for publication on July 07, 2007

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Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  10 Oct 2007
• Date of issue
  2007

History

• Received
  07 June 2007
• Accepted
  07 July 2007