Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Using an Autologous Composite Tendon Graft for an Animal Study-A Biomechanical Analysis

In order to help improve graft-tunnel healing and the incorporation of hamstring grafts, a composite hamstring-grafting technique (bone-hamstring tendon-bone) has been developed. The goal of this animal study was to evaluate the biomechanical results associated with two different hamstring-grafting technique and to compare outcomes. The study included twelve male dogs (mean weight 13.4±0.7 kg; mean age 17.4±4.2 months), nine of which dogs were equally divided into one of three groups whilst the three remaining dogs were selected as a control group. The right knee was reconstructed using a conventional hamstring-grafting technique (H) and the left knee using a bone-hamstring tendon-bone technique (BHB) for all nine animals from the three experimental groups. At three different times (four, eight and twelve weeks) post surgery, certain dogs were humanely euthanized following which both hind limbs were disarticulated at the hip joint. All knees were then tested for graft integrity using a conventional biomechanical testing system. When the external test load was applied to sample, we measured the extent of anterior tibial translation, and maximal tensor strength and also observed the failure site for the reconstructed knee when it eventually failed. The results of the anterior tibial translation test revealed no significant difference as regards between the two reconstructed test groups at four, eight, and also at 12 weeks. For the test parameter, maximal tensile strength, no significant difference between the two test groups was apparent at four weeks, but significant difference was detected at eight weeks, and also at twelve weeks. As regards graft-failure site, our investigations revealed all H-group test animals exhibited failure occurring within the graft-tunnel site at four weeks and 67% of BHB-group dogs demonstrated failure occurring at the tendon part at twelve weeks. In conclusion, our biomechanical animal study has demonstrated that bone-hamstring-bone grafting features a relatively early graft-healing process and exhibits a greater maximal tensor strength than is the case for hamstring-only grafting.

並列關鍵字

anterior cruciate ligament ； composite hamstring graft ； graft-tunnel healing

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