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J Knee Surg 2016; 29(08): 684-689
DOI: 10.1055/s-0036-1571803
Original Article
Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Influence of Posterior Cruciate Ligament Tension on Knee Kinematics and Kinetics

Muhammad Shoifi Abubakar
1   Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
,
Shinichiro Nakamura
1   Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
,
Shinichi Kuriyama
1   Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
,
Hiromu Ito
1   Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
,
Masahiro Ishikawa
1   Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
,
Moritoshi Furu
1   Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
,
Yoshihisa Tanaka
1   Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
,
Shuichi Matsuda
1   Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

31 August 2015

27 December 2015

Publication Date:
23 February 2016 (online)

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Abstract

The posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) has an important role in cruciate-retaining total knee arthroplasty to achieve good clinical results. The purpose of the study was to examine the influence of PCL tension on knee kinematics and kinetics and to propose an indicator for proper PCL tension during surgery. A squatting activity was simulated in a weight-bearing deep knee bend using a musculoskeletal computer simulation knee model. The length of the PCL was changed to represent different PCL tension models. The amount of PCL tension significantly influenced knee kinematics and kinetics. In the normal PCL model, the facet center positions at 90 degrees of knee flexion were positioned at almost the same position as in full extension. A loose PCL-induced paradoxical anterior movement and greater patellofemoral forces, whereas a tight PCL was related to excessive rollback and increased tibiofemoral forces. This study suggested ideal knee kinematics with proper PCL tension, in which the medial contact position at full flexion was almost similar to the position at 90 degrees of knee flexion.

Keywords

posterior cruciate ligament - total knee arthroplasty - cruciate retaining - knee kinematics - knee kinetics
 

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