Variation in anterior cruciate ligament strain in different degres of varus knee

• Grant number: 12/51429-4
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: May 01, 2013
• End date: April 30, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine
• Principal Investigator: Gilberto Luís Camanho
• Grantee: Gilberto Luís Camanho
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina (FM). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) lesion is the most common knee ligament lesion. It can occur isolated or combined with other knee ligament injuries. With a low frequency, this associated lesions are commonly overlooked. Correct diagnosis and treatment of these lesions is essential to achieve a good outcome with ACL reconstruction. Among these lesions special attention should be given to lateral compartment and postero-lateral corner injuries (PLC). The degree of primary knee varus, and lateral or PLC injuries wich compromise the function of the native or reconstructed ACL is unknown. Also the amount of correction that should be aimed is a controversy issue. We propose a study to determine the strain increase in ACL during gait with gradual increments of mechanical varus in the knee. The study will be conducted through finite elements. Primary outcome is to establish the relative increase in ACL strain with a progressively more varus knee instead of to determine the absolute values of ACL strain. The finite elements and technology will be provided by the ESI group S.A. from France. It is necessary to define a human knee model and develop a specific method of evaluation. Anterior cruciate ligament strain will be studied under 9 situations of stress (combination of 3 degrees of flexion and 3 degrees of varus). The goal is to improve the knowledge of how varus stress affects the strain in ACL and eventually indicate when and how osteotomy should be taken adjunct to ACL reconstruction. (AU)