S. Walsh et al., KNEE IMMOBILIZATION INHIBITS BIOMECHANICAL MATURATION OF THE RABBIT MEDIAL COLLATERAL LIGAMENT, Clinical orthopaedics and related research, (297), 1993, pp. 253-261
In this investigation, the effect of immobilization on the structural
biomechanical properties of the immature rabbit medial collateral liga
ment (MCL) was quantified. The right hindlimbs of ten, three-month-old
female New Zealand White rabbits were immobilized. The hindlimbs of t
he first group (n = 5) were immobilized for one month, until the rabbi
ts were four months of age. The hindlimbs of the second group (n = 5)
were immobilized for three months, until the rabbits were six months o
f age. Left hindlimbs were not surgically treated and served as contra
lateral controls. Fifteen normal animals were kept in similar cages un
til they were killed in subgroups at three, four, or six months of age
. Biomechanical investigations after the animals were killed included
the testing of a number of MCL. structural properties, including prefa
ilure and strength tests. Results showed that the maturation of MCL st
ructural properties were inhibited during immobilization with signs of
structural degradation becoming more obvious at the longer period of
immobilization. Results also demonstrated that the structural mechanic
al properties of the contralateral MCLs were significantly altered. Th
ese results suggest that knee mobility is essential to the normal matu
ration of MCL mechanical properties and that contralateral MCLs cannot
be used as normal controls in this immature rabbit model of immobilit
y.