Ultimate stress and age-dependent deformation characteristics of the iliotibial tract

Background and aims: To understand biomechanics of ligaments and tendons data on their material properties are necessary. The iliotibial tract is a suitable model for virtual pelvic or lower extremity ligaments due to its parallel fibers, which facilitates biomechanical testing. Here, we determined Young's modulus (YM) as secant stiffness between defined limits of the iliotibial tract and correlated the data to ultimate stress (US) of the specimens and to age, gender and body weight of the body donors. Materials and methods: Thirty eight specimens from 12 iliotibial tracts of 10 young donors (mean age 31.2 +/- 9.1 years) were investigated biomechanically. After preconditioning, YM were determined in the ranges of 0-4 and 4-11 N/mm(2) of applied stress and from 4 N/mm(2) of applied stress to US. Results: YM of the specimens were 84.7 +/- 30.2 (0-4 N/mm(2)), 335.4 +/- 101.9 (4-11 N/mm(2)), and 369.1 +/- 191.5 (4 N/mm(2) to US) N/mm(2), respectively. The mean US was 35.8 +/- 16.4 N/mm(2). YM and US correlated closely in the ranges of 4-11 N/mm(2) (r=0.95) and 4 N/mm(2) to US (r=0.91). YM did not correlate to age, body weight or gender within these young donors. Concerning tissue behavior a decrease of YM, i.e. weakening, is more common than an increase of YM, i.e. stiffening, before specimen failure. Overall, YM of specimens from young donors were significantly lower compared to those of old donors. Discussion and conclusions: This is the first study providing age-dependent nonlinear stiffness properties of the iliotibial tract. YM is significantly lower in young than in old donors and is thus a subject of alteration during life time. (c) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.