Insights from a computational model of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction

Objectives: Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction is a common surgical procedure, particularly among athletes and especially those involved in sports requiring sudden changes in movement direction. This procedure aims to repair the ACL, a crucial ligament for stabilizing the knee joint. Th...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Ramos A, Anacleto C, Simões J. A
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-09-01
Series:Results in Engineering
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S259012302502287X
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850104643252649984
author Ramos A
Anacleto C
Simões J. A
author_facet Ramos A
Anacleto C
Simões J. A
author_sort Ramos A
collection DOAJ
description Objectives: Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction is a common surgical procedure, particularly among athletes and especially those involved in sports requiring sudden changes in movement direction. This procedure aims to repair the ACL, a crucial ligament for stabilizing the knee joint. The present study aimed to develop a computational model to investigate the effect of biomechanical parameters associated with ACL reconstruction, primarily focusing on the loads sustained by the ACL. Materials and Methods: Based on a CT scan, a computational model of a left knee was developed, including hard tissues (femur, tibia and patella) and soft tissues (ligaments, cartilages and meniscus). A multibody model was designed and implemented to study ACL loads during 90° passive flexion, considering the knee ligaments as mechanical springs. The effects of pre-load, ligament footprint position, and ACL stiffness were analysed in relation to the maximum load sustained by the ACL fixation. Results: The results were validated using published data in computational and ex vivo results. The model developed exhibited similar biomechanical behaviour, with a maximum load approximately 5 % higher. A peak load of 208 N was observed at 30° of flexion with a pre-load of 128 N. The ligament footprint position was found to influence the maximum load by approximately 20 %. Conclusions: The validated model can be used to analyse additional biomechanical parameters related to ACL reconstruction. ACL stiffness is a key mechanical property affecting the maximum load sustained and is influenced by both pre-load and the ligament’s footprint position on the tibia.
format Article
id doaj-art-4e385cba12d240d88b5159f1be11103b
institution DOAJ
issn 2590-1230
language English
publishDate 2025-09-01
publisher Elsevier
record_format Article
series Results in Engineering
spelling doaj-art-4e385cba12d240d88b5159f1be11103b2025-08-20T02:39:18ZengElsevierResults in Engineering2590-12302025-09-012710621510.1016/j.rineng.2025.106215Insights from a computational model of anterior cruciate ligament reconstructionRamos A0Anacleto C1Simões J. A2Departamento de Engenharia Mecânica, Universidade de Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal; Corresponding author.Departamento de Engenharia Mecânica, Universidade de Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, PortugalESAD.IDEA, 4450-073 Matosinhos, PortugalObjectives: Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction is a common surgical procedure, particularly among athletes and especially those involved in sports requiring sudden changes in movement direction. This procedure aims to repair the ACL, a crucial ligament for stabilizing the knee joint. The present study aimed to develop a computational model to investigate the effect of biomechanical parameters associated with ACL reconstruction, primarily focusing on the loads sustained by the ACL. Materials and Methods: Based on a CT scan, a computational model of a left knee was developed, including hard tissues (femur, tibia and patella) and soft tissues (ligaments, cartilages and meniscus). A multibody model was designed and implemented to study ACL loads during 90° passive flexion, considering the knee ligaments as mechanical springs. The effects of pre-load, ligament footprint position, and ACL stiffness were analysed in relation to the maximum load sustained by the ACL fixation. Results: The results were validated using published data in computational and ex vivo results. The model developed exhibited similar biomechanical behaviour, with a maximum load approximately 5 % higher. A peak load of 208 N was observed at 30° of flexion with a pre-load of 128 N. The ligament footprint position was found to influence the maximum load by approximately 20 %. Conclusions: The validated model can be used to analyse additional biomechanical parameters related to ACL reconstruction. ACL stiffness is a key mechanical property affecting the maximum load sustained and is influenced by both pre-load and the ligament’s footprint position on the tibia.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S259012302502287XKneeAnterior cruciate ligament reconstructionIn-silico modelLigament Footprint
spellingShingle Ramos A
Anacleto C
Simões J. A
Insights from a computational model of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction
Results in Engineering
Knee
Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction
In-silico model
Ligament Footprint
title Insights from a computational model of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction
title_full Insights from a computational model of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction
title_fullStr Insights from a computational model of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction
title_full_unstemmed Insights from a computational model of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction
title_short Insights from a computational model of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction
title_sort insights from a computational model of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction
topic Knee
Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction
In-silico model
Ligament Footprint
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S259012302502287X
work_keys_str_mv AT ramosa insightsfromacomputationalmodelofanteriorcruciateligamentreconstruction
AT anacletoc insightsfromacomputationalmodelofanteriorcruciateligamentreconstruction
AT simoesja insightsfromacomputationalmodelofanteriorcruciateligamentreconstruction