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Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy
Published in: Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy 11/2019

01-11-2019 | KNEE

A more flattened bone tunnel has a positive effect on tendon–bone healing in the early period after ACL reconstruction

Authors: Fengyuan Zhao, Xiaoqing Hu, Jiahao Zhang, Weili Shi, Bo Ren, Hongjie Huang, Yingfang Ao

Published in: Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy | Issue 11/2019

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Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether a flattened bone tunnel has a positive effect on the tendon–bone healing (TBH) process in the early period after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction.

Methods

Seventy-two New Zealand White rabbits were randomly allocated into two groups, the flattened tunnel (FT) group and the conventional round tunnel (RT) group. We compared the cross-sectional areas and diameters of the bone tunnels between the two groups through computed tomography (CT) scanning. TBH results between the two groups were assessed by histological analysis, micro-CT scanning and biomechanical tests at 4 weeks, 8 weeks and 12 weeks after operation.

Results

The cross-sectional areas of the bone tunnels between the two groups were almost the same. However, the shape of bone tunnels in the FT group was more flattened. A faster cellular and collagen remoulding process were found in the FT group. Semiquantitative histological analysis of Safranin O staining showed that there was more fibrocartilage formation in the interface region in the FT group (P < 0.05). Sirius Red staining showed that the tissues in the interface areas were more intense in the FT group. Micro-CT scanning showed that more new bone formation could be found in the interface region in the FT group. The biomechanical tests also showed that FT ACL reconstruction will result in a stronger regenerated tendon–bone interface.

Conclusions

Our study found that a flattened bone tunnel accelerated TBH in the early period after ACL reconstruction surgery in a rabbit model, which lays the groundwork for further clinical practice of this ACL reconstruction method.
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
A more flattened bone tunnel has a positive effect on tendon–bone healing in the early period after ACL reconstruction
Authors
Fengyuan Zhao
Xiaoqing Hu
Jiahao Zhang
Weili Shi
Bo Ren
Hongjie Huang
Yingfang Ao
Publication date
01-11-2019
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in
Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy / Issue 11/2019
Print ISSN: 0942-2056
Electronic ISSN: 1433-7347
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-019-05420-7

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