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Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy

Published in:

01-07-2012 | Experimental Study

Potential of healing a transected anterior cruciate ligament with genetically modified extracellular matrix bioscaffolds in a goat model

Authors: Matthew B. Fisher, Rui Liang, Ho-Joong Jung, Kwang E. Kim, Giovanni Zamarra, Alejandro J. Almarza, Patrick J. McMahon, Savio L-Y. Woo

Published in: Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy | Issue 7/2012

Abstract

Purpose

Biological augmentation to heal a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) has gained significant interest. This study examined the potential advantages of using extracellular matrix (ECM) bioscaffolds from galactosyl-α(1,3)galactose deficient pigs to heal the transected ACL.

Methods

In 16 skeletally mature goats, the ACL in the right hindlimb was transected and repaired. In 9 of these animals, an ECM sheet was wrapped around the injury site and with an ECM hydrogel injected into the transected site. The remaining 7 animals were treated with suture repair only. The left hindlimb served as a sham-operated control.

Results

After 12 weeks, the healing ACL in the ECM-treated group showed an abundance of continuous neo-tissue formation, while only limited tissue growth was found after suture repair only. The cross-sectional area of the ACL from the ECM-treated group was similar to sham-operated controls (n.s.) and was 4.5 times those of the suture repair group (P < 0.05). The stiffness of the femur-ACL-tibia complexes from the ECM-treated group was 2.4 times those of the suture repair group (P < 0.05). Furthermore, these values reached 48% of the sham-operated controls (53 ± 19 N/mm and 112 ± 21 N/mm, respectively, P < 0.05).

Conclusions

The application of an ECM bioscaffold and hydrogel was found to accelerate the healing of a transected ACL following suture repair in the goat model with limited tissue hypertrophy and improvement in some of its biomechanical properties. Although more work is necessary to fully restore the function of the normal ACL, these early results offer a potential new approach to aid ACL healing.

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Title: Potential of healing a transected anterior cruciate ligament with genetically modified extracellular matrix bioscaffolds in a goat model
Authors: Matthew B. Fisher
Rui Liang
Ho-Joong Jung
Kwang E. Kim
Giovanni Zamarra
Alejandro J. Almarza
Patrick J. McMahon
Savio L-Y. Woo
Publication date: 01-07-2012
Publisher: Springer-Verlag
Published in: Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy / Issue 7/2012
Print ISSN: 0942-2056
Electronic ISSN: 1433-7347
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-011-1800-x

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Potential of healing a transected anterior cruciate ligament with genetically modified extracellular matrix bioscaffolds in a goat model

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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