Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 25, 2026
Athymic Rat Model for Evaluation of Engineered Anterior Cruciate Ligament Grafts
Published on: March 26, 2015
Tendon graft fixation in ACL reconstruction: in vitro evaluation of bioabsorbable tenodesis screw
Scott A Klein1, John Nyland, Yavuz Kocabey
1Division of Sports Medicine, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Louisville, 210 East Gray Street, Suite 1003, Louisville, KY 40202, USA.
Background:
Conventional ACL reconstruction requires sufficient tibial bone quality for secure graft fixation. We evaluated the mechanical characteristics of a supplemental tenodesis screw in cadaveric specimens.
Material And Methods:
One group of 7 specimens from 7-paired tibiae was randomly assigned to undergo tibialis anterior tendon graft-bone tunnel fixation with a bioabsorbable interference screw, using conventional ACL reconstruction techniques. The other group of 7 specimens underwent the same procedure supplemented with a bioabsorbable tenodesis screw. All specimens were subjected to pullout testing on a servo hydraulic device.
Results:
Specimens in the supplemental fixation group had double the load to failure (tenodesis = 467 (SD 184) N, control group = 223 (SD 66) N, p = 0.02) and were also one-third stiffer (tenodesis = 31 (SD 13) N/mm, control group = 21 (SD 6) N/mm, p = 0.03) than the specimens in the conventional fixation group.
Interpretation:
Supplemental bioabsorbable tenodesis screw fixation may be advantageous for primary reconstruction in patients with low tibial bone mineral density or during revision procedures. By providing secure soft tissue graft-tibia fixation during the early phase after ACL reconstruction, supplemental tenodesis fixation may enable patients to participate safely in more intense, early rehabilitation.