In Vitro Functional Verification of a Novel Laxity Measurement Stress Radiography Device

The human knee is a hinge joint, primarily facilitating locomotion. Knee joint instability, due to ligament injuries (anterior cruciate ligament [ACL], posterior cruciate ligament [PCL], medial collateral ligament [MCL] and lateral collateral ligament [LCL]), is a result of direct or indirect trauma, non-anatomical stresses during pivoting movements about the knee, imbalanced landing during jumping and rapid deceleration during high intensity locomotion [1]. Biomechanical indications of an unstable knee joint include decreased joint integrity, hyper laxity, abrupt locking and catching combined with clicking noises during locomotion. Approximately, two hundred and fifty thousand ACL injuries occur in the United States of America, annually [2].