The Mechanical Characteristics of the Collateral Ligaments of the Human Ankle Joint

Abstract

In the present study, the tensile mechanical properties of all of the collateral ligaments of the human ankle joint were determined, in vitro, from tensile tests conducted on 120 ligaments obtained from 20 fresh lower limbs. The ultimate load of the lateral collateral ligaments increased in an anteroposterior sequence, with the anterior fibulotalar ligament less than the fibulocalcaneal ligament and less than the posterior fibulotalar ligament. For the medial collateral ligaments, the increasing order of ultimate load was found to be tibiocalcaneal ligament, tibionavicular ligament, tibiospring ligament, posterior tibiotalar ligament. The posterior tibiotalar ligament and tibiospring ligament, so frequently neglected in the anatomical and orthopaedic literature, demonstrated the highest yield force and ultimate load of all of the collateral ligaments of the ankle. Additionally, the tibiospring ligament showed high yield and ultimate elongation properties probably related to its distal attachment to the spring ligament. The fibulocalcaneal ligament was found to have high linear elastic modulus suggesting some type of unique material properties or internal fiber organization. Knowledge of the mechanical characteristics of the ligaments of the ankle joint contributes to an understanding of their normal function, pathomechanics of injury, and their optimal surgical reparative procedure and reconstructive material. A knowledge of the normal mechanical properties of the ankle ligaments provides a data base to evaluate which of the multiplicity of present tendon graft materials has mechanical properties similar to those of the ligaments to be replaced. Those tendon grafts will be the most suitable for replacement of specific ligaments. Finally, data on the mechanical properties of these ligaments offer the possibility for evaluating any future biological or prosthetic grafts.

Estudio Morfométrico y Variaciones Anatómicas del Ligamento Talocrural Lateral

“…N. A.; MORENO, T. R.; IBARRA, M. C.; GIESEN, F. L.; CAPURRO, S. B.; El LTFP es el que lo sigue en longitud, con el mayor valor (30mm) descrito por Sarrafian y el menor (21,16mm) por Siegler et al (1988).…”

An in vitro and finite element study of load redistribution in the midfoot

“…Siegler et al [20] reported the tensile mechanical properties of the collateral ligaments of the ankle joint. The Young's modulus of tibiofibular interosseous membrane was estimated according to the ultimate tensile stress and strain at rupture [21].…”

“…The material properties of all tissues were assigned according to previous simulations or experimental reports [2, [12][13][14][16][17][18][19][20][21]. Bones and cartilages were idealized as being homogeneous, isotropic, and linearly elastic.…”

“…Mkandawire et al [23] measured and established a morphometric spectrum of CSAs for the foot and ankle ligaments. In the case that the ligaments were neither included in this spectrum nor measured by Siegler et al [20], CSAs were selected according to neighboring or analogical ligaments. The encapsulated soft tissue of the FE model was defined as being hyperelastic and was described by the Mooney-Rivlin reduced polynomial model [24].…”

Funktionelle Anatomie des Fußes

“…Die höchsten Werte -bis zu 3 mm -treten entlang der medialen Kante der Trochlea auf, ein weiteres Maximum findet sich im Zentrum der lateralen Seitenfläche. Eine Untersuchung der Spaltlinien [14] [31].…”