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Finite element simulations of different hamstring tendon graft lengths and related fixations in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction

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Abstract

As one of the most frequently used grafts in anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction, hamstring tendon (HT) grafts are prepared with different lengths and fixed by specific fixations in knee joints. However, there are incomplete studies to investigate both the joint kinematics and graft biomechanics in the ACL reconstructions with different HT graft lengths. In this paper, three different graft lengths (i.e., 30, 50, and 70 mm) were developed in the ACL reconstruction and analyzed using finite element method under two usual clinical test loads (i.e., 134 N anterior tibial drawer and pivot shift test load). The different mechanical properties of the corresponding fixations were also considered for each graft length. It was revealed that the change in HT graft length would cause different strain and stress results in the grafts, but did not greatly influence joint stabilities under the two clinical test loads. The graft reaction force at the femoral fixation was always greatly lower than that at the tibial fixation regardless of load and graft length. The comparison of stress and strain results also indicated that more graft tissues inside the femoral and tibial tunnels could decrease the stress and strain values at the femoral and tibial fixation sites, respectively.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation under Grant [2015M570085] and the National Nature Science Foundation of China under Grant [51275267].

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Engineering Mechanics, Institute of Biomechanics and Medical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China

    Chao Wan

  2. State Key Laboratory of Tribology, Tsinghua University, Room A1031, Lee Shau Kee Science and Technology Building, Beijing, 100084, China

    Chao Wan & Zhixiu Hao

  3. Arthritis Clinic & Research Center, Peking University People’s Hospital, Beijing, 100044, China

    Zhichang Li & Jianhao Lin

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  1. Chao Wan
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Correspondence to Zhixiu Hao.

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Wan, C., Hao, Z., Li, Z. et al. Finite element simulations of different hamstring tendon graft lengths and related fixations in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Med Biol Eng Comput 55, 2097–2106 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11517-017-1637-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11517-017-1637-7

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