[Study on reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament in the monkey knee using polyester artificial ligament]

We performed an experimental study of ACL reconstruction utilizing polyester artificial ligament(Leeds-Keio). The quality of regenerated ligaments was compared between two different procedures; in the one 1 cm wide Leeds-Keio ligament was used alone for reconstruction(Group 1) and in the other, Leeds-Keio ligament of the same size was augmented with one-third width of free patellar tendon (Group 2). Eighteen knees of nine Japanese monkeys were used. The specimens were obtained at 2, 6 and 12 months after the operation and investigated macroscopically, microscopically and biomechanically. Regenerated ligaments in Groups 1 and 2 appeared identical and grossly normal. However, more mature and stable ligament was noted in the cylinder of artificial ligaments after 2 months after operation in Group 2 than in Group 1 in terms of both quality and quantity. Biomechanically, however, the maximum the tension in the regenerated ligaments was approximately 1/2-1/3 of that of normal ACL. The authors believe that more mature ligament was made in ACL reconstruction when the artificial ligament was augmented with autogenous soft tissue.