Anatomie und Verhalten von Sehnen und Bändern

Donor age and sex have limited effects on the mechanical and microstructural properties of human connective tissues

Connective tissues, such as tendons, ligaments, and capsules, play a large role in locomotion and joint stability and are often subjected to traumatic injuries and degeneration. The purpose of this study was to evaluate if the mechanical and microstructural properties of connective tissues correlate with the age and sex of the human donor. Dissected samples were prepared for mechanical testing, consisting of 10 cycles of preconditioning, a stress-relaxation ramp and hold, and a quasi-static ramp to failure. During the testing protocol, the microstructural organization of tissues was analyzed using quantitative polarized light imaging. A linear mixed model was used to assess whether tissue type, donor age, or donor sex were significantly associated with mechanical and microstructural tissue properties. Tissue type had a significant effect on all parameters, while donor age and sex did not. Groupings by tissue type (i.e., tendon vs. ligament vs. capsule) were evident for microstructural data, with tendons having a tighter grouping and ligaments having a larger spread of values. The interaction of tissue type and age yielded a significant effect for linear modulus only (p = 0.007), with the palmaris tendon appearing to have the largest contribution to this effect. There were no significant interaction effects between sex and tissue type or donor age. Donor age appears to affect linear modulus in some, but not all, tissue types. Otherwise, age and sex do not have significant effects on the mechanical and microstructural properties of the range of connective tissues that were analyzed in this study.

Arthroscopic suture anchor repair of the lateral ligament ankle complex: a cadaveric study

BACKGROUND

Operative treatment of mechanical ankle instability is indicated for patients with multiple sprains and continued episodes of instability. Open repair of the lateral ankle ligaments involves exposure of the attenuated ligaments and advancement back to their anatomic insertions on the fibula using bone tunnels or suture implants.

HYPOTHESIS

Open and arthroscopic fixation are equal in strength to failure for anatomic Broström repair.

STUDY DESIGN

Controlled laboratory study.

METHODS

Seven matched pairs of human cadaveric ankle specimens were randomized into 2 groups of anatomic Broström repair: open or arthroscopic. The calcaneofibular ligament and anterior talofibular ligament were excised from their origin on the fibula. In the open repair group, 2 suture anchors were used to reattach the ligaments to their anatomic origins. In the arthroscopic repair group, identical suture anchors were used for repair via an arthroscopic technique. The ligaments were cyclically loaded 20 times and then tested to failure. Torque to failure, degrees to failure, initial stiffness, and working stiffness were measured. A matched-pair analysis was performed. Power analysis of 0.8 demonstrated that 7 pairs needed to show a difference of 30%, with a 15% standard error at a significance level of α = .05.

RESULTS

There was no difference in the degrees to failure, torque to failure, or stiffness for the repaired ligament complex. Nine of 14 specimens failed at the suture anchor.

CONCLUSION

There is no statistical difference in strength or stiffness of a traditional open repair as compared with an arthroscopic anatomic repair of the lateral ligaments of the ankle.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

An arthroscopic technique can be considered for lateral ligament stabilization in patients with mild to moderate mechanical instability.

Different crimp patterns in collagen fibrils relate to the subfibrillar arrangement

Collagen fibril ultrastructure and course were examined in different connective tissues by PLM, SEM, TEM, and AFM. In tendons, collagen fibrils were large and heterogeneous with a straight subfibrillar arrangement. They ran densely packed, parallel, and straight changing their direction only in periodic crimps where fibrils showed a local deformation (fibrillar crimps). Other tissues such as aponeurosis, fascia communis, skin, aortic wall, and tendon and nerve sheaths showed thinner uniform fibrils with a helical subfibrillar arrangement. These fibrils appeared in parallel or helical arrangement following a wavy, undulating course. Ligaments showed large fibrils as in tendon, with fibrillar crimps but less packed. Thinner uniform-sized fibrils also were observed. Fibrillar crimps seem to be related to the subfibrillar arrangement being present only in large fibrils with a straight subfibrillar arrangement. These stiffer fibrils respond mainly to unidirectional tensional forces, whereas the flexible thinner fibrils with helical subfibrils can accommodate extreme curvatures without harm, thus responding to multidirectional loadings.

[Damage to large tendons: Achilles, patellar and quadriceps tendons]

The etiology and mechanisms of Achilles, patellar and quadriceps tendon ruptures are very similar. Age dependent changes in tendon structure and disorders such gout, diabetes, rheumatic diseases and chronic renal failure are associated causes. The main mechanism of rupture is indirect trauma. Although clinical diagnosis is easy, ruptures are still frequently missed. Sonography is the main standard diagnostic tool. MRI is indicated only in special cases. Open operative repair is the most common treatment for quadriceps and patellar tendon ruptures. Treatment of Achilles tendon ruptures is moving towards an individualized choice of therapy. Percutaneous and other "minimally invasive" techniques will play an increasingly important role.