The Anterolateral Ligament Has Similar Biomechanical and Histologic Properties to the Inferior Glenohumeral Ligament.

PURPOSE

To characterize the tensile and histologic properties of the anterolateral ligament (ALL), inferior glenohumeral ligament (IGHL), and knee capsule.

METHODS

Standardized samples of the ALL (n = 19), anterolateral knee capsule (n = 15), and IGHL (n = 13) were isolated from fresh-frozen human cadavers for uniaxial tensile testing to failure. An additional 6 samples of the ALL, capsule, and IGHL were procured for histologic analysis and determination of elastin content.

RESULTS

All investigated mechanical properties were significantly greater for both the ALL and IGHL when compared with capsular tissue. In contrast, no significant differences between the ALL and IGHL were found for any property. The elastic modulus of ALL and IGHL samples was 174 ± 92 MPa and 139 ± 60 MPa, respectively, compared with 62 ± 30 MPa for the capsule (P = .001). Ultimate stress was significantly lower (P < .001) for the capsule, at 13.4 ± 7.7 MPa, relative to the ALL and IGHL, at 46.4 ± 20.1 MPa and 38.7 ± 16.3 MPa, respectively. The ultimate strain at failure was 37.8% ± 7.9% for the ALL and 39.5% ± 9.4% for the IGHL; this was significantly greater (P = .041 and P = .02, respectively) for both relative to the capsule, at 32.6% ± 8.4%. The strain energy density was 7.8 ± 3.1 MPa for the ALL, 2.1 ± 1.3 MPa for the capsule, and 7.1 ± 3.1 MPa for the IGHL (P < .001). The ALL and IGHL consisted of collagen bundles aligned in a parallel manner, containing elastin bundles, which was in contrast to the random collagen architecture noted in capsule samples.

CONCLUSIONS

The ALL has similar tensile and histologic properties to the IGHL. The tensile properties of the ALL are significantly greater than those observed in the knee capsule. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The ALL is not just a thickening of capsular tissue and should be considered a distinct ligamentous structure comparable to the IGHL in the shoulder. The tensile behavior of the ALL is similar to the IGHL, and treatment strategies should take this into account.