Lateral collateral ligament deficiency of the elbow joint: A modeling approach

ABSTRACT A computational model capable of predicting the effects of lateral collateral ligament deficiency of the elbow joint would be a valuable tool for surgical planning and prediction of the long‐term consequences of ligament deficiency. The purpose of this study was to simulate lateral collateral ligament deficiency during passive flexion using a computational multibody elbow joint model and investigate the effects of ligament insufficiency on the kinematics, ligament loads, and articular contact characteristics (area, pressure). The elbow was placed initially at approximately 20° of flexion and a 345 mm vertical downward motion profile was applied over 40 s to the humerus head. The vertical displacement induced flexion from the initial position to a maximum flexion angle of 135°. The study included simulations for intact, radial collateral ligament deficient, lateral ulnar collateral ligament deficient, and combined radial and lateral ulnar collateral ligament deficient elbow. For each condition, relative bone kinematics, contact pressure, contact area, and intact ligament forces were predicted. Intact and isolated radial collateral ligament deficient elbow simulations were almost identical for all observed outcomes. Minor differences in kinematics, contact area and pressure were observed for the isolated lateral ulnar collateral ligament deficient elbow compared to the intact elbow, but no elbow dislocation was detected. However, sectioning both ligaments together induced substantial differences in kinematics, contact area, and contact pressure, and caused complete dislocation of the elbow joint. © 2016 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 34:1645–1655, 2016.