Update on the Biomechanics of the Craniocervical Junction, Part II: Alar Ligament.

Global Spine Journal
Basem IshakJens R Chapman

Abstract

In vitro biomechanical study. The strength of the alar ligament has been described inconsistently, possibly because of the nonphysiological biomechanical testing models, and the inability to test the ligament with both attachments simultaneously. The purpose of this biomechanical model was to reevaluate the alar ligament's tensile strength with both bony attachments, while also keeping the transverse ligament intact, all in a more physiological biomechanical model that mimics the mechanism of traumatic injury closely. Eleven fresh-frozen occipito-atlanto-axial (C0-C1-C2) specimens were harvested from individuals whose mean age at death was 77.4 years (range 46-97 years). Only the alar and transverse ligaments were preserved, and the bony C0-C1-C2 complex was left intact. Axial tension was exerted on the dens to displace it posteriorly, while the occipito-axial complex was fixed anteriorly. A device that applies controlled increasing force was used to test the tensile strength (M2-200, Mark-10 Corporation). The mean force required for the alar ligament to fail was 394 ± 52 N (range 317-503 N). However, both the right and left alar ligaments ruptured simultaneously in 10 specimens. The ligament failed most often at the dens (n = ...Continue Reading

References

Jan 1, 1988·Journal of Orthopaedic Research : Official Publication of the Orthopaedic Research Society·J DvorakB Rahn
Mar 1, 1987·Spine·J Dvorak, M M Panjabi
Apr 14, 2000·Journal of Neurosurgery·R S TubbsW J Oakes
Jun 21, 2001·Clinical Biomechanics·Manohar M PanjabiJiri Dvorak
Oct 20, 2007·Clinical Anatomy : Official Journal of the American Association of Clinical Anatomists & the British Association of Clinical Anatomists·E CattrysseP Van Roy
Sep 13, 2012·European Spine Journal : Official Publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society·Peter G OsmotherlySusan R Mercer
Oct 9, 2016·Clinical Anatomy : Official Journal of the American Association of Clinical Anatomists & the British Association of Clinical Anatomists·Brandon Michael HenryJerzy A Walocha
Nov 2, 2016·Clinical Anatomy : Official Journal of the American Association of Clinical Anatomists & the British Association of Clinical Anatomists·Krzysztof A TomaszewskiJerzy A Walocha
Feb 14, 2017·Clinical Anatomy : Official Journal of the American Association of Clinical Anatomists & the British Association of Clinical Anatomists·Peter C OakesR Shane Tubbs
Aug 23, 2017·World Neurosurgery·Joe IwanagaR Shane Tubbs
Aug 23, 2017·World Neurosurgery·Joe IwanagaR Shane Tubbs
Jan 19, 2018·Clinical Anatomy : Official Journal of the American Association of Clinical Anatomists & the British Association of Clinical Anatomists·Mohammadali M ShojaR Shane Tubbs
Feb 13, 2018·World Neurosurgery·Juan P SardiR Shane Tubbs

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

Biomechanics

Biomechanics examines the generation of internal forces within the body and investigates the effects and control of forces that act on or are produced on tissues. Here are the latest discoveries.