In Vitro Mechanical Properties and Failure Mode of the Equine (Pony) Cranial Cruciate Ligament

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Abstract
In vitro failure modes and mechanical properties of the equine cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) were evaluated in 15 stifle joints from 10 ponies. Ponies were from 3 to 25 years of age and weighed from 122 to 208 kg. Femur‐CCL‐tibia specimens were mounted in 48 degrees of flexion, distracted until a 500‐g tensile preload was achieved, and then tested by tensile loading to failure. Specimens failed by complete midsubstance CCL rupture (n = 9), combined tibial insertion avulsion fracture and midsubstance CCL rupture (n = 4), and combined femoral origin avulsion fracture and midsubstance CCL rupture (n = 2). No significant differences were found between CCL mechanical properties and failure mode or body weight.Femur‐CCL‐tibia maximum tensile loads ranged from 1,945 to 4,326 N (median, 2,914 N). Mean maximum tensile load (N) per kilogram of body weight was 17.98 N/kg (median, 17.55 N/kg). These pony specimens had stiffer cranial cruciate ligaments (median, 320.2 N/mm) with a higher elastic modulus (median, 321.7 MPa) than has been reported for other species. Significant decreases in linear tensile load (P= .0292), maximum tensile load (P= .0493), and increases in strain to maximum load (P= .0463) were found in the specimens from 20‐ to 25‐year‐old ponies when compared with those from 3‐ to 10‐year‐old ponies.

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