Ligamentous restraints to anterior-posterior drawer in the human knee: A biomechanical study

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the ranked contribution of each ligament in the knee joint to knee stability. Using intact cadaveric knee specimens, the force generated by each ligament to restrain the knee during the anterior and posterior drawer tests was measured with the knee at 90 and 30° and up to 5 mm of drawer. Following each measurement, ligaments were, in turn, cut and the force resisting the drawer tests measured. Following sectioning of the cruciate ligaments, the force generated by the remaining ligaments was measured under greater levels of drawer. The anterior cruciate ligament provides the majority (86 %) of restraint during the anterior drawer test, with the other ligaments each contributing less than 3 %. In the posterior drawer test, the posterior cruciate ligament provides the majority (95 %) of restraint. Following sectioning of the posterior cruciate ligament, the popliteus complex and posterior lateral capsule provide 58 % restraint, and the medial collateral ligament provides 16 %.