[Assessing the strength of the anterior cruciate ligaments and transplants from the central third of the patellar ligament].

Tensile strength and elongation tests were applied to bone-ligament-bone specimens of anterior cruciate ligaments and grafts from the central third of patellar tendons of 16 autopsy knee joints. A comparison of all strength values thus recorded has revealed that a graft from the central third of the patellar tendon is a fully effective substitute for anterior cruciate ligaments. No significant difference was found to exist between both variants with regard to percentual elongation and stiffness. Tensile strength of patellar tendon grafts was higher by almost one third as compared to tensile strength recorded from anterior cruciate ligaments.