The aim of this study was to evaluate the stiffness of the anterior cruciate ligament and of the grafts prepared for its reconstruction from the central portion of the patellar ligament and of double semitendinosus and gracilis tendons originated from the same knees. The author utilizes 20 knees of fresh human cadavers, all male, with average age of 32,2 ± 8,9 years, ranging from 17 to 47 years. The structures analyzed were submitted to three mechanical traction tests, with 10 minutes intervals for recovery in a Kratos K-5002 (electromechanical) machine, with 20 mm/min speed up to 147, 15 N (15 kgf) and then keeping them stretched for a 15 minutes period tests. All structures tested show increase of stiffness, unless between 2º and 3º test to anterior cruciate ligament didn't have statistical difference. The statistical analysis, provided the following conclusions that repeated cycles of mechanical test determine an increase in the stiffness of the grafts analyzed.
Knee; Grafts; Stiffness
