Computational study on extra-articular knee structures preventing the anterior cruciate ligament from re-rupturing using the GHBMC M50-PS

An anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture is a frequent injury in athletes and may lead to a reduced activity level and subsequent joint lesions due to a non-compensable rotational instability of the human knee. In most cases, singular ACL reconstruction can restore the anterior-posterior and rotational stability. However, in some cases, rotational instability with positive pivot phenomenon persists and raises questions about additional extra-articular structures supporting the ACL in stabilizing the knee under rotational loading. The present study aims to evaluate the influence of such extra-articular structures and their impact on the rotational stability of the knee by using an isolated FE knee model extracted from the full body model of the GHBMC M50-PS. The main contributors to relieve loads on the ACL and to increase rotational stability for a given rotation of the femur will be identified.