STIFFNESS COMPARISON OF CORACOCLAVICULAR LIGAMENT AND ANATOMIC RECONSTRUCTION COMPLEXES: OVERALL AND INDIVIDUAL COMPLEX COMPONENTS

摘要

The stiffness of the coracoclavicular ligaments and their surgical replacments have previously been reported; however, the mechanism of failure and procedures for repair include both the clavicle and coracoid process which have not been investigated. Therfore, this study utilized a physiolgogic mechanism of injury to compare the stiffness of the coracoclavicluar ligament and anatomic reconstruction complexes, both overall and individual complex components. After dislocation of the coracoclavicular ligament complex, a 40% decrease of the clavicle stiffness was observed along with a more comparable stiffness of the reconstruction tendon graft to the intact coracoclavicular ligaments compared to current repair materials. These findings suggest all components of the coracoclavicluar complex following dislocation should be considered in selection of rehablilation protocols or surgical procedures.