• Journal of the Korean Arthroscopy Society
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.160-166
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• 2012

Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine the patterns of the stress distribution within the reconstructed anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) double bundles in response to an anterior tibial load and rotatory load at $45^{\circ}$ flexed knee model by use of a 3-dimensional finite element analysis (FEM). Materials and Methods: The $0^{\circ}$ and $45^{\circ}$ flexed 3-D knee model were reconstructed based on the high resolution computed tomography (CT) images from the right knee of a healthy male subject. To simulate double bundle ACL reconstruction, in $0^{\circ}$ analytic model, four 7 mm diameter tunnels were created at the center of each anteromedial (AM) and posterolateral (PL) footprints on the femur and tibia. The grafts were inserted into the corresponding bone tunnels and then reconstructed knee model was flexed to $45^{\circ}$. As a next step, the 5 mm anterior tibial load and internal rotational load of $10^{\circ}$ were applied on the final Computer aided design (CAD) model. And then stress patterns of each bundle were assessed using a finite element analysis. Results: In response to the 5 mm of anterior tibial load, the AM bundle showed increased stresses around the tibial and femoral attachment sites; especially in the anterior aspect of the bundle. In the PL bundle, the highest stress concentration was also noticed on the anterior aspect of the bundle. Under $10^{\circ}$ internal rotational load, the stress concentration was predominant around the anterior aspect of the tibial attachment site within the AM bundle. The PL bundle also showed highest stress concentration on the anterior aspect of the bundle. Conclusion: Although the stress patterns were not identical among the AM and PL bundle, there were common trends in the stress distribution. The stress concentration was predominant on the anterior aspect of both bundles in response to the anterior tibial load and rotatory load.