Abstract
Introduction: The biomechanical properties of tendon and ligament have long been the subject of intense research. The understanding of the ultrastructure as it relates to the biomechanical function and clinical demands have often considered the ultimate properties at failure alone. Tendons and ligaments are predominately loaded in-vivo at subfailure loads and often in the initial toe region. To date, little work has focussed on the viscoelastic properties of the tendon in the initial toe region. The biomechanical behaviour at these low loads may reflect the unique mechanical interactions between the fasciles and collagen fibrils. This study examined stress relaxation of ligaments in the initial non-linear portion of the load vs. displacement curve.
Methods: Six flexor tendons (2.5 mm wide x 1mm thick) were harvested from 18 month cross bred whethers and stored in 0.145 M NaCl until testing. Tensile testing was performed on a MACH 1 Micromechanical Testing Machine (BIOSYNTECH, Laval, Quebec, Canada) in 0.145M phosphate buffered saline at room temperature. Tendons (gauge length 30mm) were displaced to 0.5, 1 and 5% strain at a loading rate of 50 microns/sec and stress relaxation measured over a period of 300 seconds and repeated for 4 sequences. Data was analysed using an analysis of variance.
Results and Discussion: Peak loads at 0.5 % strain ranged from 50 g (sequence 1) to 130 g (sequence 4) while at 5 % strain peak loads reached upwards to 1600 g. These loads are well within the initial toe region of the load-displacement behaviour of the ligament. The MACH 1 testing system provide a reliable and highly accurate system to control micron level displacements and mg load resolution. Recently, Yamamoto and coworkers reported the stress relaxation behavior and strain rate effects of collagen fascicles differed greatly from those of bulk tendons. The differences in tensile and viscoelastic properties between fascicles and bulk tendons may be attributable, in part, to ground substances, mechanical interaction between fascicles, and the difference of crimp structure of collagen fibrils. The present study supports an important role of tissue ultra-structure at low loads with regard to stress relaxation. Subtle changes in ground susbtance, water content or biochemical consituents not evident in testin
The abstracts were prepared by Professor Jegan Krishnan. Correspondence should be addressed to him at the Flinders Medical Centre, Bedford Park 5047, Australia.
