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Basic biomechanic principles of knee instability

  • ACL Update: Objective Measures on Knee Instability (V Musahl, Section Editor)
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Abstract

Motion at the knee joint is a complex mechanical phenomenon. Stability is provided by a combination of static and dynamic structures that work in concert to prevent excessive movement or instability that is inherent in various knee injuries. The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is a main stabilizer of the knee, providing both translational and rotatory constraint. Despite the high volume of research directed at native ACL function, pathogenesis and surgical reconstruction of this structure, a gold standard for objective quantification of injury and subsequent repair, has not been demonstrated. Furthermore, recent studies have suggested that novel anatomic structures may play a significant role in knee stability. The use of biomechanical principles and testing techniques provides essential objective/quantitative information on the function of bone, ligaments, joint capsule, and other contributing soft tissues in response to various loading conditions. This review discusses the principles of biomechanics in relation to knee stability, with a focus on the objective quantification of knee stability, the individual contributions of specific knee structures to stability, and the most recent technological advances in the biomechanical evaluation of the knee joint.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, 3471 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA

    Jason P. Zlotnicki & Jan-Hendrik Naendrup

  2. Orthopaedic Robotics Laboratory, University of Pittsburgh, 408 Center for Bioengineering, 300 Technology Drive, Pittsburgh, PA, 15219, USA

    Jason P. Zlotnicki, Jan-Hendrik Naendrup, Gerald A. Ferrer & Richard E. Debski

  3. Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, 300 Technology Drive, Pittsburgh, PA, 15219, USA

    Gerald A. Ferrer & Richard E. Debski

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  1. Jason P. Zlotnicki
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  2. Jan-Hendrik Naendrup
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  3. Gerald A. Ferrer
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  4. Richard E. Debski
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Correspondence to Richard E. Debski.

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Jason P. Zlotnicki, Jan-Hendrik Naendrup, Gerald A. Ferrer, and Richard E. Debski declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on ACL Update: Objective Measures on Knee Instability

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Zlotnicki, J.P., Naendrup, JH., Ferrer, G.A. et al. Basic biomechanic principles of knee instability. Curr Rev Musculoskelet Med 9, 114–122 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12178-016-9329-8

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