| Research on how wrist ligaments react under load is desired, but very few tests have been conducted due to the small size of the wrist joint and its components. This research established a reliable protocol for testing human wrist bone-ligament-bone complexes, in addition to adding to the present knowledge of scapholunate ligament biomechanics.; Scapholunate ligament specimens of the wrist were tested in uni-axial tension to determine stiffness, ultimate load, and stress relaxation behaviour. The ligament mechanical properties were then correlated with each other, with bone mineral density of the hand, and with age.; The mechanical testing results of this study were consistent with that of previous research on the scapholunate ligament in smaller samples. Results from sixteen ligament specimens yielded a mean stiffness of 66.4 ± 28.6 N/mm at a displacement rate of 50 mm/min, and a mean stiffness of 94.5 ± 44.4 N/mm at 100 mm/min. Relaxation behaviour, characterized by percentage load remaining, was 68.1% ± 12.1% after 100 seconds. Ligament ultimate loads were 357 ± 110 N. A positive correlation was observed between ligament stiffness and ligament ultimate load. Positive correlations were observed between bone mineral density and ligament strength properties (stiffness and ultimate load), despite the variability associated with bone mineral density measurements. No associations were observed between ligament properties and age in a sample population with mean age 76 ± 13 years. |
