Codominance of the individual posterior cruciate ligament bundles. An analysis of bundle lengths and orientation. Academic Article uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • BACKGROUND: It is unclear how each bundle of the posterior cruciate ligament contributes to posterior knee stability. HYPOTHESIS: Changes in bundle orientation and length occur such that neither bundle dominates in restraining posterior tibial motion throughout knee flexion and extension. STUDY DESIGN: Controlled laboratory study. METHODS: Six fresh-frozen cadaveric knees were studied in a joint-testing rig with individual quadriceps and hamstring muscle loading. Kinematic data for the tibia and femur were obtained at knee flexion angles from 0 degrees to 120 degrees. The joint was then disarticulated, and the insertions of the two bundles on the tibia and femur were digitized. RESULTS: Length of the anterolateral bundle increased with increasing knee flexion angle from 10 degrees to 120 degrees. Length of the posteromedial bundle decreased with increasing knee flexion angle from 0 degrees to 45 degrees and increased slightly from 60 degrees to 120 degrees. Length of the anteromedial bundle was significantly less than that of the posteromedial at 0 degrees, 10 degrees, and 20 degrees of knee flexion. The anterolateral bundle was significantly more horizontal at flexion angles of 0 degrees, 10 degrees, 20 degrees, 30 degrees, and 45 degrees (P < 0.05). The posteromedial bundle was more horizontal at 120 degrees. CONCLUSIONS: Changes in orientation take place such that neither bundle dominates in restraining posterior tibial motion throughout knee flexion and extension. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Double-bundle reconstructions achieve more physiologic knee function.

publication date

  • January 1, 2003

Research

keywords

  • Femur
  • Joint Instability
  • Knee Joint
  • Posterior Cruciate Ligament
  • Tibia

Identity

Scopus Document Identifier

  • 0037343733

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1177/03635465030310021101

PubMed ID

  • 12642256

Additional Document Info

volume

  • 31

issue

  • 2