The anterior cruciate ligament provides resistance to externally applied anterior tibial force but not to internal rotational torque during simulated weight-bearing flexion

Abstract

Purpose: We investigated knee kinematics during simulated weight-bearing flexion and determined the effect of 3 different parameters of external tibial loading on the kinematics of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL)-intact and ACL-deficient knee.

Methods: Ten human knee specimens were mounted on a dynamic knee simulator, and weight-bearing muscle-loaded knee flexions were simulated while a robotic/universal force sensor system was used to provide external tibial loads during the motion. Three different loading conditions were simulated: partial body weight only, an additional 50 N of anterior tibial force (ATD), or an additional 5 Nm of internal rotational tibial torque (IRT). After arthroscopic transection of the ACL, these 3 trials were repeated. The kinematics were measured with an ultrasonic measuring system for 3-dimensional motion analysis, and different loading and knee conditions were examined.

Results: When the ACL was intact, ATD and IRT barely changed the anterior tibial translation. However, in the absence of the ACL, ATD significantly increased the anterior tibial translation by 5 mm whereas IRT did not. The application of IRT increased the internal tibial rotation of ACL-intact knees, but there was no difference in the internal rotation before and after transection of the ACL. Regardless of ACL status, the difference in the anterior tibial translation and the internal tibial rotation across different external tibial loadings was greater at lower flexion angles and gradually diminished with increasing flexion angles.

Conclusions: We established an experimental protocol, incorporating a dynamic knee simulator and a robotic/universal force sensor system, to successfully measure the kinematics of the knee joint while applying external forces in weight-bearing flexion. Our findings suggest that, in muscle-loaded knee flexion, the ACL provides substantial resistance to externally applied ATD but not to IRT.

Clinical relevance: Information from this study allows us to better understand the function of the ACL and, hence, treatment of injuries to this important stabilizing ligament.