We evaluated the biomechanical properties of patellar tendon allografts from donors aged 18 to 55 years. Bone-patellar tendon-bone complexes were harvested from acceptable donors and processed. Fat and soft tissue were removed, and the tendons were sectioned lengthwise leaving the central third. Area measure ments were taken, and mechanical testing was per formed. Specimens were pulled to failure at a rate of 10% of the initial length per second. The force at failure, tensile stress, modulus of elasticity, and percent elon gation were determined for each specimen. There was no significant correlation (P > 0.05) between age and any of the mechanical properties. Load at failure ranged from 2110 to 4650 N, with a mean of 3424 N. Regres sion analysis showed slightly decreasing tensile stress with increasing age, but the correlation was not signifi cant. It appears that patellar tendon allografts from do nors up to age 55 have similar mechanical properties.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Blevins FT, Hecker AT, Bigler GT, et al The effect of donor age and strain rate on the biomechanical properties of bone-patellar tendon-bone allografts. Am J Sports Med22: 328-333, 1994
2.
Bonamo JJ, Krinick RM, Sporn AA Rupture of the patellar ligament after use of its central third for anterior cruciate reconstruction: A report of two cases J Bone Joint Surg66A1294-1297, 1984
3.
Butler DL, Kay MD, Stouffer DC: Comparison of material properties in fascicle-bone units from human patellar tendon and knee ligaments J Biomechanics19425-432, 1986
4.
Clancy WG Jr, Ray JM Anterior cruciate ligament autografts, in Jackson DW, Drez D Jr (eds) The Antenor Cruciate Deficient Knee New Concepts in Ligament Repair St Louis, CV Mosby Co., 1987, pp 193-210
5.
Cooper DE, Deng XH, Burstein AL, et al The strength of the central third patellar tendon graft A biomechanical study. Am J Sports Med21818-824, 1993
6.
DeLee JC, Craviotto DF: Rupture of the quadnceps tendon after a central third patellar tendon anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction Am J Sports Med19415-416, 1991
7.
Fetto JF, Marshall JL The natural history and diagnosis of anterior cruciate ligament insufficiency Clin Orthop14729-38, 1980
8.
Fu FH, Jackson DW, Jamison J., et al Allograft reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament, in Jackson DJ (ed) The Antenor Cruciate Ligament Current and Future Concepts. New York, Raven Press, Ltd , 1993, pp 325-338
9.
Haut RC, Powlison AC Some effects of donor age and sex on the mechanical properties of patellar tendon graft tissues. Adv in Bioeng875-78, 1988
10.
Hubbard RP, Soutas-Little RW Mechanical properties of human tendon and their age dependence. J Biomed Eng106: 144-150, 1984
11.
Ihle CL, Jackson DW: Intra-articular surgical considerations, in Jackson DW, Drez D Jr (eds) The Antenor Cruciate Deficient Knee New Concepts in Ligament Repair St Louis, CV Mosby Co , 1987, pp 142-167
12.
Indelicato PA, Bittar ES A perspective of lesions associated with ACL insufficiency of the knee A review of 100 cases. Clin Orthop19877-80, 1985
13.
Jackson DW Biology of allografts for cruciate ligament reconstruction The Knee Current Concepts Park Ridge, IL, AAOS, 1993
14.
Jackson DW, Grood ES, Wilcox P., et al. The effects of processing techniques on the mechanical properties of bone-anterior cruciate ligament-bone allografts Am J Sports Med16101-105, 1988
15.
Jackson DW, Kurzweil PR Allografts in knee ligament surgery, in Scott WN (ed). Ligament and Extensor Mechanism Injuries of the Knee Diagnosis and Treatment St. Louis, Mosby-Year Book, Inc , 1991, pp 349-360
16.
Jackson DW, Lemos MJ Autograft reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament Bone-patellar tendon-bone , in Jackson DJ (ed): TheAntenorCruciate Ligament Current and Future Concepts New York, Raven Press, Ltd., 1993 , pp 291-303
17.
Johnson GA, Ohno K., Tramaglini DM, et al: Age related changes in the tensile and viscoelastic properties of the human patellar tendon Trans Orthop Res Soc18370, 1993
18.
McCarroll JR : Fracture of the patella dunng a golf swing following reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament. A case report Am J Sports Med1126-27, 1983
Noyes FR, Butler DL, Grood ES, et al Biomechanical analysis of human ligament grafts used in knee-ligament repairs and reconstructions J Bone Joint Surg66A. 344-352, 1984
21.
Noyes FR, Grood ES The strength of the anterior cruciate ligament in humans and rhesus monkeys Age-related and species-related changes J Bone Joint Surg58A1074-1082, 1976
22.
Roberts TS, Drez D. Jr, McCarthy W., et al: Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using freeze-dned, ethylene oxide-sterilized, bone-patellar tendon-bone allografts Am J Sports Med19. 35-43, 1991
23.
Simon TM, Jackson DW: Anterior cruciate ligament allografts, in Jackson DW, Drez D Jr (eds): The Anterior Cruciate Deficient Knee: New Concepts in Ligament Repair St. Louis, CV Mosby Company, 1987 , pp 211-225
24.
Woo Sl-Y , Hollis JM, Adams DJ, et al: Tensile properties of the human femur-anterior cruciate ligament-tibia complex The effects of specimen age and orientation . Am J Sports Med19217-225, 1991
