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Deutscher Kongress für Orthopädie und Unfallchirurgie, 75. Jahrestagung der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Unfallchirurgie, 97. Tagung der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Orthopädie und Orthopädische Chirurgie, 52. Tagung des Berufsverbandes der Fachärzte für Orthopädie und Unfallchirurgie

25. - 28.10.2011, Berlin

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Age-dependent biomechanical properties of the iliotibial tract for pelvic Finite Elements Analysis

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  • N. Hammer - Universitätsklinikum Leipzig, Klinik Unfall- und Wiederherstellungschirurgie, Leipzig, Germany
  • J. Böhme - Universitätsklinikum Leipzig, Klinik Unfall- und Wiederherstellungschirurgie, Leipzig, Germany
  • H. Steinke - Universität Leipzig, Institut für Anatomie, Leipzig, Germany
  • U. Lingslebe - Universitätsklinikum Leipzig, Klinik Unfall- und Wiederherstellungschirurgie, Leipzig, Germany
  • C. Hädrich - Universität Leipzig, Institut für Rechtsmedizin, Leipzig, Germany
  • C. Josten - Universitätsklinikum Leipzig, Klinik Unfall- und Wiederherstellungschirurgie, Leipzig, Germany

Deutscher Kongress für Orthopädie und Unfallchirurgie. 75. Jahrestagung der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Unfallchirurgie, 97. Tagung der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Orthopädie und Orthopädische Chirurgie, 52. Tagung des Berufsverbandes der Fachärzte für Orthopädie. Berlin, 25.-28.10.2011. Düsseldorf: German Medical Science GMS Publishing House; 2011. DocGR17-410

doi: 10.3205/11dkou502, urn:nbn:de:0183-11dkou5027

Published: October 18, 2011

© 2011 Hammer et al.
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/deed.en). You are free: to Share – to copy, distribute and transmit the work, provided the original author and source are credited.

Outline

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Questionnaire: Pelvic Finite Elements Analysis (FEA) lacks in adequate morphological and biomechanical properties of the ligaments. The tissues which are usually subject of materials testing may not reflect the native situation, as regards the mean age of the specimens. The iliotibial tract (IT) serves as a suitable model for pelvic FEA due to its parallel fibers and its simple manageability in materials testing. The Young's modulus (YM) of the IT was investigated, regarding correlations of the YM to age, body weight and failure load as well as gender differences.

Methods: 33 fresh IT were gained from donators (mean age 31.2 years) and investigated biomechanically. Improved partial plastination was accomplished to prevent material slippage. After preconditioning, the non-linear YM range (YMn; 0-4 N/mm²) and the quasi-linear YM range (YMq; 4-11 N/mm²) were investigated before the failure load was determined.

Results and Conclusions: The YM of the probes averaged 79 N/mm² (YMn) and 380 N/mm² (YMq), respectively. The YM were significantly smaller than those of old-aged specimens in a previous study (mean age 78.8 years, YMn=273 N/mm², YMq=597 N/mm²). A mean failure load of 36.6 N/mm² (±19.8 N/mm²) was recorded. While the YM and the failure load correlated closely (r=0.66 for YMn, r=0.88 for YMq), no correlations were found for the YM and age or body weight. Gender-related differences could not be determined.

This is the first study to provide age- and failure load-dependent YM of the IT. IT rigidity is significantly smaller in young specimens and is subject to alteration. The phenomenon that failure load and rigidity correlate closely cannot be explained conclusively but gives insight into complexity of ligament biomechanics, which has to be considered in pelvic FEA.