| Summary: | The response of the human talocrural articulation to internal and external torques was investigated in an in vitro study. Experimental and theoretical methods were used to evaluate this response in terms of (1) displacement between the tibia and the talus, (2) tension in the major ligamentous structures of the joint, and (3) stresses in the bones of the talocrural joint mortise. The experimental investigation involved the design and fabrication of several testing and measurement instruments, including a three-dimensional joint loading apparatus, a six degrees-of-freedom displacement measuring device, and several implantable, non-destructive ligament tension transducers. The stress distribution in the talocrural mortise was estimated using a three-dimensional finite element model with simulated physiological loading conditions. === The effects of the talocrural joint flexion angle, the subtalar joint angle, and the amount of weightbearing across the joint were examined. The results showed a varying joint behavior for the same torque application across the range of variables studied. Based on the experimental and theoretical findings, a mechanism for the talocrural joint response to torque was proposed. In addition, the results have been discussed in terms of their clinical significance.
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