MECHANICAL-PROPERTIES OF BIODEGRADABLE POLY-L-LACTIDE LIGAMENT AUGMENTATION DEVICE IN EXPERIMENTAL ANTERIOR CRUCIATE LIGAMENT RECONSTRUCTION

LAITINEN O POHJONEN T TORMALA P SAARELAINEN K VASENIUS J ROKKANEN P VAINIONPAA S

O. Laitinen et al., MECHANICAL-PROPERTIES OF BIODEGRADABLE POLY-L-LACTIDE LIGAMENT AUGMENTATION DEVICE IN EXPERIMENTAL ANTERIOR CRUCIATE LIGAMENT RECONSTRUCTION, Archives of orthopaedic and trauma surgery, 112(6), 1993, pp. 270-274

10

INGLESE

Article

Orthopedics,Surgery

Archives of orthopaedic and trauma surgery → ACNP

0936-8051

112

6

1993

270 - 274

ISI

0936-8051(1993)112:6<270:MOBPLA>2.0.ZU;2-F

The mechanical properties, including maximum load, elongation, and axi al rigidity, of the biodegradable poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) Ligament a ugmentation device were investigated, 6, 12, 24, and 48 weeks after ex perimental anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) repair in 32 sheep. In 16 sheep the cut ACL was removed and reconstructed with the fascia lata a ugmented with a braided PLLA implant 3.2 mm in diameter. In 16 sheep t he ACL was cut from its midportion, sutured, and then augmented with a PLLA implant. The contralateral knee served as a control. At 6 weeks the maximum loads of the reconstructed ACL in the fascia lata-PLLA and primary suture-PLLA groups were 9% and 6%, respectively, of the contr alateral ACL, but they increased with time and at 48 weeks were 21% an d 12%, respectively, of the control. In the fascia lata-PLLA group the increase in maximum load was evident (P<0.05) during the follow-up pe riod. During the first 12 weeks the axial rigidity (expressing the ela sticity of the reconstruction) was poor, especially in the high-stress region corresponding to the tensile load close to the maximum load. T hereafter the axial rigidity increased, being 48% of the control in th e fascia lata-PLLA group and 29% in the primary suture-PLLA group at 4 8 weeks. In the low-stress region between 10 N and 100 N the increase in axial rigidity in the fascia lata-PLLA group was apparent (P<0.05) throughout the follow-up, with values of 72% of the control in the fas cia lata-PLLA and 47% in the primary suture-PLLA group at 48 weeks. Fa scia lata augmented with PLLA seemed to yield a better result than pri mary suture augmented with PLLA, although no statistically significant difference was found. Despite modest mechanical properties in the ear ly postoperative period, good functional recovery with minor radiograp hic changes and acceptable mechanical properties were achieved by the end of the 1-year follow-up period.