IN-VITRO STUDY OF KNEE STABILITY AFTER POSTERIOR CRUCIATE LIGAMENT RECONSTRUCTION

Tile effect of reconstructing the posterior cruciate ligament on anter oposterior laxity of the knee was evaluated in 7 cadaveric knees, A bo ne-patellar tendon-bone graft was used, Femoral pilot holes were drill ed to locate the most isometric sites for attachment of the gr aft to the femur using an isometer. A tension of 89 N was set in the graft us ing a tensiometer with the knee in 90 degrees flexion while applying a n anterior drawer force of 156 N to the tibia. Posterior displacement of the knee tvas measured in 15 degrees increments from 0 degrees to 9 0 degrees in the intact knee, in tile knee with the posterior cruciate ligament transected, and after reconstruction of the posterior crucia te ligament in response to 100 IV of posteriorly applied force, Graft tension was nearly constant between 0 degrees and 90 degrees flexion, indicating the grafts to be isometric, The reconstruction reduced post erior translation of the tibia in the posterior cruciate ligament exci sed knee at all angles of flexion; the differences were statistically significant. The reconstruction returned posterior translation to leve ls not significantly different from those of the intact knee between 0 degrees and 45 degrees flexion but not in the greater angles of flexi on tested.