Vascular ingrowth into ACL-grafts

Excerpt

Since the time of Hey-Groves it has been discussed whether grafts used for ACL-reconstruction will heal and obtain the same quality and strength as the original ACL. In 1927, Horan describes a case where a Hey-Groves reconstruction of the ACL had been performed 5 years prior to death. The pedicled graft from the iliotibial tract was found to be well nourished, without any areas of degeneration and looked like a normal ACL. Ivar Palmer in his famous book of 1938 describes a patient who died from a pulmonary embolus 2 months after a Hey-Groves ACL-reconstruction. The graft had healed nicely, was well vascularised and showed no signs of necrosis. …