Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 26, 2026

A Probing Device for Quantitatively Measuring the Mechanical Properties of Soft Tissues during Arthroscopy
Published on: May 1, 2020
Quantitative evaluation of capsular and labral resistances in the hip joint using a probing device
Takehito Hananouchi1,2, Stephen Kenji Aoki2
1Medical Engineering Laboratory, Department of Mechanical Engineering Faculty of Engineering, Osaka Sangyo University, Daito, Osaka, Japan.
Background:
Probing to assess conditions of hip capsule and acetabular labrum is performed by "surgeons' feeling".
Objective:
We investigated the resistance of the labrum and the hip capsule quantitatively while they were pulled with a probing device.
Methods:
With the probing device in which a strain gauge was embedded, ten fresh frozen specimens of the pelvis and proximal femur were measured in each three surgical steps, (1) closed, (2) open, (3) closured for the capsule, and (1) intact, (2) cut, (3) repaired for the labrum.
Results:
The mean highest resistance levels for the capsule were 9.8 N at the closed capsule, 4.1 N at the open capsule, and 8.5 N at the closured capsule. The values at the three phases were statistically significant. The mean highest resistance levels for the hip labrum were 8.2 N at the labrum intact, 4.0 N at the labrum cut, and 7.9 N at the labrum repair. The values at the three phases were also statistically significant.
Conclusions:
Since the quantitatively measured values in each three steps were significantly different, the values with the probing device might be useful to evaluate whether the lesion of the soft tissue exists and whether some surgical intervention works well.
Related Concept Videos
Structural Joints: Synovial Joints
Structural Joints: Fibrous Joints
Suture
All the bones of the skull, except for the mandible, are joined to each other by a fibrous joint called a suture. The fibrous connective tissue found at a suture strongly unites the adjacent skull bones and thus helps to protect the brain and form the face. In...
Structural Joints: Cartilaginous Joints
There are two types of cartilaginous joints:
Synchondrosis
A synchondrosis ("joined by cartilage") is a cartilaginous joint where bones are connected by hyaline cartilage. Synchondrosis may be temporary...
Joints
Structural joint classifications are based on the material that makes up the joint as well as whether or not the joint contains a space between the bones. Joints are structurally classified as fibrous, cartilaginous, or synovial.
Fibrous Joints Are Immovable
The bones of a...
Introduction to Joints
Ankle Joint

