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A biomechanical study of human lateral ankle ligaments and autogenous reconstructive grafts.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Attarian, DE; McCrackin, HJ; Devito, DP; McElhaney, JH; Garrett, WE
Published in: Am J Sports Med
1985

The purpose of this study was to investigate the biomechanical behavior of human anterior talofibular and calcaneofibular ligaments, as well as peroneus brevis, split peroneus brevis, and toe extensor tendon grafts. This article represents the first published data comparing the most frequently injured ankle ligaments to the most commonly used autogenous reconstructive grafts. Twenty fresh human ankles provided the bone-ligament-bone and tendon graft specimens for biomechanical testing on a Minneapolis Testing System. Protocol consisted of cyclic loading at physiologic deflections, followed by several load-deflection tests at varying velocities, followed by a final extremely rapid load to failure test. The load-deflection data for all ligaments and tendons demonstrated nonlinearity and strain rate dependence. The maximum load to failure for the anterior talofibular ligament was the lowest of all specimens tested, while its strain to failure was the highest. The loads to failure of the peroneus brevis and split peroneus tendons were significantly greater than the anterior talofibular ligament and approximately equal to the calcaneofibular ligament. Strains to failure for all tendons were significantly less than ligament strains. The high strain to failure of the anterior talofibular ligament demonstrates its physiologic function of allowing increased ankle plantar flexion-internal rotation, while its low load to failure shows its propensity for injury. The greater strength of the tendon grafts explains the success of most reconstructive procedures in reestablishing stability in chronic ankle sprains; at the same time, the data presented suggest that those surgical procedures sacrificing the entire peroneus brevis tendon are unnecessary.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Duke Scholars

Published In

Am J Sports Med

DOI

ISSN

0363-5465

Publication Date

1985

Volume

13

Issue

6

Start / End Page

377 / 381

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Transplantation, Autologous
  • Tendons
  • Orthopedics
  • Middle Aged
  • Ligaments, Articular
  • Humans
  • Biomechanical Phenomena
  • Ankle Joint
  • Aged
  • Adult
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Attarian, D. E., McCrackin, H. J., Devito, D. P., McElhaney, J. H., & Garrett, W. E. (1985). A biomechanical study of human lateral ankle ligaments and autogenous reconstructive grafts. Am J Sports Med, 13(6), 377–381. https://doi.org/10.1177/036354658501300602
Attarian, D. E., H. J. McCrackin, D. P. Devito, J. H. McElhaney, and W. E. Garrett. “A biomechanical study of human lateral ankle ligaments and autogenous reconstructive grafts.Am J Sports Med 13, no. 6 (1985): 377–81. https://doi.org/10.1177/036354658501300602.
Attarian DE, McCrackin HJ, Devito DP, McElhaney JH, Garrett WE. A biomechanical study of human lateral ankle ligaments and autogenous reconstructive grafts. Am J Sports Med. 1985;13(6):377–81.
Attarian, D. E., et al. “A biomechanical study of human lateral ankle ligaments and autogenous reconstructive grafts.Am J Sports Med, vol. 13, no. 6, 1985, pp. 377–81. Pubmed, doi:10.1177/036354658501300602.
Attarian DE, McCrackin HJ, Devito DP, McElhaney JH, Garrett WE. A biomechanical study of human lateral ankle ligaments and autogenous reconstructive grafts. Am J Sports Med. 1985;13(6):377–381.
Journal cover image

Published In

Am J Sports Med

DOI

ISSN

0363-5465

Publication Date

1985

Volume

13

Issue

6

Start / End Page

377 / 381

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Transplantation, Autologous
  • Tendons
  • Orthopedics
  • Middle Aged
  • Ligaments, Articular
  • Humans
  • Biomechanical Phenomena
  • Ankle Joint
  • Aged
  • Adult