Reconstructing anterior cruciate ligament in rabbits using autologous tendon combined with artificial ligament
- VernacularTitle:自体肌腱与人工韧带联合应用重建兔前交叉韧带
- Author:
Ligang HOU
;
Jianzhong XU
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- From:
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research
2007;0(23):-
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: Autologous tendon and artificial tendon are both the important grafts that can reconstruct the ruptured anterior cruciate ligament, but each has their defects and excellents. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the biomechanical change and histological rejection of reconstructing the anterior cruciate ligament of the rabbits with autologous tendon and artificial ligament. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING: A controlled observation was performed from September 2007 to February 2008 in the Orthopedics Laboratory and the Biological Laboratory of Zhengzhou University (Zhengzhou, Henan, China). MATERIALS: Twenty-eight adult New Zealand rabbits of SPF grade were offered by Zhengzhou University Animal Experimental Center, weighing 2.4-3.1 kg with a mean of 2.8 kg, irrespective of genders. MB66 braid was produced by Smith & Nephew Medical (Shanghai) Limited. METHODS: The tendons of extending toe were harvested in both lower extremities, one tendon was wrapped with artificial ligament, while the other was only processed into the terminal wove dovetail. Anterior cruciate ligament was excised from bilateral knee joints in rabbits through the parapatellar incision, then femoral and tibial bones were drilled to implant the autologous tendon and artificial ligament on one side (serving as combined tendon group), whereas only autologous tendon on the other side (serving as pure tendon group). Both sides were sutured through bone bridge. Every 7 rabbits were killed under anesthesia at 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks postoperatively. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Gross observation and histological determination were carried out in the reconstructed anterior cruciate ligament of rabbits. The maximal breaking force of both grafts were detected. RESULTS: At 2 and 4 weeks postoperatively, the cells of reconstructed grafts disappeared and showed necrosis. Inflammatory cells infiltrated between autologous tendon and artificial ligament, there were cells growing from the edge to the center. At 6 weeks postoperatively, the autologous tendon had a little loose and disfiguration. The synovial membrane and cells hyperplasia were obvious. The synovial membrane filled the combined tendon and the infiltrative inflammatory cells reduced. The proliferative cells remarkably trended to the center. At 8 weeks postoperatively, the grafts were mostly substituted by new cells, and the artificial ligament was completely parceled by the synovial membrane, but there were still some gaps; The combined tendon exhibited no loose or disfiguration, the infiltrative inflammatory cells disappeared. The cells in grafts were close to normal cells in anterior cruciate ligament, but fibrocytes arranged in disorder and fibers showed a verticality. Biomechanics test results demonstrated the maximal breaking force of combined tendon was more than that of pure tendon (P
