ACOUSTIC EMISSION MONITORING OF THE FAILURE PATTERNS OF THE ANTERIOR CRUCIATE LIGAMENT UNDER UNIAXIAL TENSION. A CADAVERIC STUDY

摘要

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is not an isometric structure, but it is rather composed of different functional, groups of fibers, mainly the anteromendial (AM) and the posterolateral (PL). In a previous study on the biomechanical response of the ACL, it was concluded that ACL failure represents a sequence of interrelated procedures that are related to the biomechanical properties of the distinct fiber bundles (AM and PL). Three different patterns were recognized, where a complete or partial tear of the fiber bundles were preceding while the remaining intact fiber bundles have a potential load resistance. The purpose of the current study was to further investigate the aforementioned failure sequence, and to clarify the events taking place during ACL rupture under uniaxial tension along the ligament. The key objective is to correlate macroscopical response and acoustic emission (AE) activity. Furthermore we aim to use AE as a tool for the confirmation of the distinct role of the AM and PL bundles during rupture of the ACL. For this purpose, AE transducers were placed on both the tibia and the femur, and stress wave signals during tension were monitored. A correlation between AE activity and failure pattern was attempted via the employment of appropriate descriptors.