Comparison of histopathological and biomechanical changes of ligamentum mucosum in patients with anterior cruciate ligament rupture.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to identify the biomechanical and histopathological changes of ligamentum mucosum (LM) in patients with intact versus ruptured anterior cruciate ligament (ACL).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A total of 67 patients (45 males, 22 females; mean age: 33.2±7.9 years; range, 18 to 45 years) who underwent arthroscopic knee surgery for intraarticular pathologies between July 2022 and January 2023 were prospectively analyzed. The patients with LM were divided into two groups as the ACL intact group (n=31) and ACL ruptured group (n=36). Biomechanical tests and histopathological examinations were performed in all LM patients.

RESULTS

Age and body mass index distributions were similar between the groups (p>0.05). Peak force values of the LM in the ACL ruptured group were significantly higher than the ACL intact group (p=0.037). No significant difference was found between the groups in terms of collagen index (p=0.103) and fibroblast count (p=0.821).

CONCLUSION

The peak force values of the LM were significantly higher in the ACL ruptured group as compared to the ACL intact group, which is probably due to the adaptation of LM in patients with ACL rupture against increased deforming forces to maintain knee stability.