Sensorimotor potential of the intact and injured anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments--a neurophysiological study in an animal model

AIM: This neurophysiological study is intended to investigate the sensomotor potential of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) which may provide joint stabilization via a ligamentomuscular reflex arch. In addition, the role of ligamentous injury on the sensomotor potential has been investigated. METHOD: The sensomotor potential was investigated using 24 knee joints in a sheep model under in-vivo conditions. The cruciate ligaments were mechanically loaded and the muscular activities of the hamstrings and the quadriceps were recorded simultaneously via electromyography. Injury to the ligaments was simulated by defined mechanical elongation of the ACL and PCL to failure. RESULTS: The results confirm the hypothesis of the existence of a ligamentomuscular reflex loop between ligamentary mechanoreceptors and the joint-stabilizing muscles. Mechanical loading of the ACL triggered mainly the activity of the hamstrings, whereas loading of the PCL led to the activation of the quadriceps. The rate of elongation which caused disturbances to the sensomotor potential was significantly smaller as compared to the elongation to failure. CONCLUSION: The cruciate ligaments provide dynamic joint stabilization via a ligamentomuscular reflex arch. It was demonstrated that the sensomotor potential of both structures is significantly more susceptible to ligament injury than the biomechanical potential.