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A comparison of techniques for fixation of the quadriceps muscle-tendon complex for in vitro biomechanical testing of the knee joint in sheep

A comparison of techniques for fixation of the quadriceps muscle-tendon complex for in vitro biomechanical testing of the knee joint in sheep
A comparison of techniques for fixation of the quadriceps muscle-tendon complex for in vitro biomechanical testing of the knee joint in sheep
Whilst in vitro testing can contribute to a better understanding of the biomechanical interactions at the knee joint, the application of physiological-like muscle forces in vitro remains challenging. One main difficulty seems to be the adequate fixation of the muscle–tendon complex to the mechanical apparatus that provides the forces in vitro. The goal of this study was to compare the ability of different muscle–tendon fixation mechanisms, including a new technique developed to optimise the interface grip of the soft tissues, to reliably transmit physiological in vivo loads through the muscle–tendon complex to the attached bone. The fixations of three quadriceps components in 16 right knees of skeletally mature female merino sheep were loaded to failure using four different fixation techniques (aluminium clamp, freeze clamp, suture technique and a new extension hull technique). Each technique was tested 12 times: 4 times on each individual quadriceps component. A factorial analysis for repeated measurements was undertaken to examine differences between the different fixation techniques. The extension hull technique and the aluminium clamp performed similarly, exceeding the computationally determined physiological forces in all but one trial and achieved higher failure loads than the suture technique. Although the freeze clamp reached the highest mean load to failure, it also failed more often than the extension hull technique. This comparison of the fixation techniques suggests that the new extension hull technique is a suitable fixation method for applying physiological-like muscle loading in an in vitro set-up. It cannot only be handled in a very simple manner, but also possesses a compact, lightweight construction, providing the possibility for the application of more complex loading conditions that include, e.g. the action of multiple muscles of the knee flexor and extensor group concurrently.
Biomechanical testing, muscle force, extension force, freeze clamp, extension hull, muscle-tendon fixation
1350-4533
69-75
Schöttle, Philip
168eb221-2bcc-4601-96f7-51e8f09b9f57
Goudakos, Ioannis
5887e1c2-b263-4c47-a9c9-ba65a7f82389
Rosenstiel, Nikolaus
5738bc5a-aae2-47c4-9038-a00f959f308a
Hoffmann, Jan-Erik
f8eec603-45ee-459e-ac12-dd78ff632aba
Taylor, William R.
1ed48ef6-e396-40f5-8434-6c0628c9d3ca
Duda, Georg N.
ac4e207b-3e2e-4c84-a6c4-cb67531f890b
Heller, Markus O.
3da19d2a-f34d-4ff1-8a34-9b5a7e695829
Schöttle, Philip
168eb221-2bcc-4601-96f7-51e8f09b9f57
Goudakos, Ioannis
5887e1c2-b263-4c47-a9c9-ba65a7f82389
Rosenstiel, Nikolaus
5738bc5a-aae2-47c4-9038-a00f959f308a
Hoffmann, Jan-Erik
f8eec603-45ee-459e-ac12-dd78ff632aba
Taylor, William R.
1ed48ef6-e396-40f5-8434-6c0628c9d3ca
Duda, Georg N.
ac4e207b-3e2e-4c84-a6c4-cb67531f890b
Heller, Markus O.
3da19d2a-f34d-4ff1-8a34-9b5a7e695829

Schöttle, Philip, Goudakos, Ioannis, Rosenstiel, Nikolaus, Hoffmann, Jan-Erik, Taylor, William R., Duda, Georg N. and Heller, Markus O. (2009) A comparison of techniques for fixation of the quadriceps muscle-tendon complex for in vitro biomechanical testing of the knee joint in sheep. Medical Engineering & Physics, 31 (1), 69-75. (doi:10.1016/j.medengphy.2008.04.010). (PMID:18539516)

Record type: Article

Abstract

Whilst in vitro testing can contribute to a better understanding of the biomechanical interactions at the knee joint, the application of physiological-like muscle forces in vitro remains challenging. One main difficulty seems to be the adequate fixation of the muscle–tendon complex to the mechanical apparatus that provides the forces in vitro. The goal of this study was to compare the ability of different muscle–tendon fixation mechanisms, including a new technique developed to optimise the interface grip of the soft tissues, to reliably transmit physiological in vivo loads through the muscle–tendon complex to the attached bone. The fixations of three quadriceps components in 16 right knees of skeletally mature female merino sheep were loaded to failure using four different fixation techniques (aluminium clamp, freeze clamp, suture technique and a new extension hull technique). Each technique was tested 12 times: 4 times on each individual quadriceps component. A factorial analysis for repeated measurements was undertaken to examine differences between the different fixation techniques. The extension hull technique and the aluminium clamp performed similarly, exceeding the computationally determined physiological forces in all but one trial and achieved higher failure loads than the suture technique. Although the freeze clamp reached the highest mean load to failure, it also failed more often than the extension hull technique. This comparison of the fixation techniques suggests that the new extension hull technique is a suitable fixation method for applying physiological-like muscle loading in an in vitro set-up. It cannot only be handled in a very simple manner, but also possesses a compact, lightweight construction, providing the possibility for the application of more complex loading conditions that include, e.g. the action of multiple muscles of the knee flexor and extensor group concurrently.

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More information

Published date: January 2009
Keywords: Biomechanical testing, muscle force, extension force, freeze clamp, extension hull, muscle-tendon fixation
Organisations: Bioengineering Group

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 348522
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/348522
ISSN: 1350-4533
PURE UUID: b582477b-c8f5-4141-8df1-c31ebf150ebf
ORCID for Markus O. Heller: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-7879-1135

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Date deposited: 14 Feb 2013 14:40
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 03:43

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Contributors

Author: Philip Schöttle
Author: Ioannis Goudakos
Author: Nikolaus Rosenstiel
Author: Jan-Erik Hoffmann
Author: William R. Taylor
Author: Georg N. Duda

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