Biomechanical properties of partial carpal ligaments

Yongqing XU; Shizhen ZHONG; Weidong ZHAO; Dachuan XU

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND:

Although hand urgical doctors have drawn the attentions to carpal diseases mainly manifesting as carpalinstability, it is still expected to carry on the researches on biomechanical properties of Chinese carpal ligaments.

OBJECTIVE:

To understand the biomechanical properties of partial carpal ligaments so as to provide experimental evidence for the development ofclinical hand surgery.

DESIGN:

A simple specimen study.

SETTING:

Department of Orthopaedics,Kunming General Hospital of Chengdu Military Area Command of Chinese PLA,and Institute of Clinical Anatomy, First Military Medical University of Chinese PLA.

PARTICIPANTS:

Sixteen fresh specimens from Chinese adult wrists were obtained from the Departmentof Anatomy, First MilitaryMedical University of Chinese PLA and the experiment was performed in the Laboratory of Biomechanics.

INTERVENTIONS:

The partial carpalligaments were stretched till fragmentation of ligaments by using the SWD-10materialtesting machine, at the rated velocity of 5 mm per minute so as to determine the biomechanical properties of carpal ligaments. MAIN OUTCOME

MEASURES:

The tolerated maximum tension and rigidity during fragmentation of radioscaphoid ligament,radioscaphocapitate (RSC) ligament, radiolunate ligament, ulnolunate (UL) ligament, ulnotriquetral(UT) ligament,ulnar bursa,scapholunate interosseous(SLI) ligament,and lunotriquetral interosseous(LTI) ligament.

RESULTS:

Among the ligaments attached between distal radioulnar bone and carpal bone, the maximum tension and rigidity of UL ligament were the strongest, (219.2 ±55.4) N and (65.5 ± 19.6) N/mm2, of UT ligament and ulnar bursa were the weakest, (54.0 ±25.5) N, (17.8 ± 6.0) N/mm2and (58.7 ± 17.6) N, (13.4 ±4.7) N/mm2 respectively, of SLI ligament was stronger, (286. 1 ±90.8) N, (95.5 ±40.0) N/mm2, and of LTI ligament were more stronger, (375.3 ± 52.6)N, (179.0 ± 39.0 N/mm2.

CONCLUSION:

Among carpal ligaments, the maximum tension and rigidity of proximal row of intercarpal ligaments were stronger than those of the ligaments attached between distal radioulnar bone and carpal bone. Of proximal row of intercarpal ligaments,the maximum tension and rigidity of LTI ligament were stronger than those of SLI ligament. Of the ligaments attached between distal radioulnar bone and carpal bone,the maximum tension and rigidity of UL ligament were the strongest.