The influence of ruptured anterior cruciate ligament on the biomechanical weakening of knee joint and posterior cruciate ligament

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to estimate biomechanical weakening of human knee joint assuming the conditions that occur when a person is standing on one leg. A patient-specific three-dimensional model of the human knee joint was developed from medical scans, while loads and material characteristics were adopted from the literature. The considered model included the following materials: bones, menisci, articular cartilage and relevant ligaments (posterior cruciate ligament, lateral collateral ligament and medial collateral ligament). The finite element analysis was used for numerical calculation of the stress distribution and failure index of posterior cruciate ligament. The obtained failure index showed that there was no possibility for posterior cruciate ligament failure under the considered conditions. It was concluded that application of the finite element analysis can provide a better insight into the biomechanical condition of the injured knee joint.