Morphological and Mechanical Property Differences in Trapeziometacarpal Ligaments of Healthy and Osteoarthritic Female Joints.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

To identify changes in morphological and mechanical properties in the volar ligament complex (VLC), dorsoradial ligaments (DRL), and posterior oblique ligaments (POL) in healthy and osteoarthritic female trapeziometacarpal (TMC) joints.

Methods

Twenty-four fresh-frozen female cadaveric TMCs were separated into (1) younger healthy/early-stage osteoarthritic, (2) elder healthy/early-stage osteoarthritic, and (3) advanced-stage osteoarthritic groups based on age and Eaton-Littler grading. Stress relaxation and load-to-failure testing were performed to characterize mechanical tensile properties. Light imaging and scanning electron microscopy (SEM)/energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) were performed to further assess enthesis structural integrity.

Results

The VLC i

SUBMITTER: Walker L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11929737 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature