The forearm interosseous ligament: comparative mechanical properties of the proximal, central, and distal bands

Abstract

We compared the mechanical properties of the three parts of interosseous membranes in 12 fresh-frozen specimens. The proximal, central and distal bands of interosseous membranes were tested in a universal testing machine. Tensile strength, ultimate strain, ultimate load and elastic modulus were measured and compared. The stress–strain relationship curves of these bands were similar to those of ligaments. Tensile strength, ultimate load and elastic modulus were significantly higher in the central band than in the proximal and distal bands. Ultimate strain was significantly lower in the central band than in proximal and distal bands. We conclude that the interosseous membrane is similar to ligaments in structure with each band having distinct characteristics. The findings may aid in clinical choice of proper grafts used for interosseous membrane reconstruction.