Biomechanics of the goat three bundle anterior cruciate ligament

Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2009 Aug;17(8):935-40. doi: 10.1007/s00167-009-0784-2. Epub 2009 Apr 9.

Abstract

The goat is a widely used animal model for basic research on the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), but the biomechanical role of the different bundles [intermediate (IM), anteromedial (AM), posterolateral (PL)] of the ACL is unclear. Therefore, the aim of this study is to describe the biomechanical function of the different bundles and evaluate its use for a double bundle ACL reconstruction model. A CASPAR Stäubli RX90 robot with a six degree-of-freedom load cell was used for measurement of anterior tibial translation (ATT) (mm) and in situ forces (N) at 30 degrees (full extension), 60 degrees , 90 degrees as well as rotational testing at 30 degrees in 14 paired goat knees before and after each bundle was cut. When the AM-bundle was cut, the ATT increased significantly at 60 degrees and 90 degrees of flexion (p < 0.05). When the PL-bundle was cut, the ATT increased only at 30 degrees. However, most load was transferred through the big AM-bundle while the PL-bundle shared significant load only at 30 degrees, with only minimal contribution from the IM-bundle at all flexion degrees. The observed biomechanical results in this study are similar to the human ACL observed previously in the literature. Though anatomically discernible, the IM-bundle plays only an inferior role in ATT and might be neglected as a separate bundle during reconstruction. The goat ACL shows some differences to the human ACL, whereas the main functions of the ACL bundles are similar.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anterior Cruciate Ligament / anatomy & histology
  • Anterior Cruciate Ligament / physiology*
  • Anterior Cruciate Ligament / surgery
  • Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries
  • Biomechanical Phenomena
  • Goats
  • Knee Joint / anatomy & histology
  • Knee Joint / physiology*
  • Models, Animal
  • Range of Motion, Articular / physiology*
  • Robotics
  • Rotation