Synthetics in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: a review

Because of a rapidly growing interest in synthetic ligaments, the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons Committee on the Knee sponsored a seminar in Atlanta, Georgia, in June 1983. Attending this seminar were Knee Committee Members, six invited guest consultants with expertise in collagen metabolism and healing and materials testings, and eight teams of investigators who presented data on eight different devices. In November 1983, the Federal Food and Drug Administration Advisory Panel for Orthopedics held an open meeting in Washington, D.C., on the subject of artificial ligaments. In February 1984, there was an hour and a half symposium on artificial ligaments at the Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons. Although there is widespread interest in this subject, it is evident that more scientific information and clinical experience must be accumulated. Uniform methods of evaluation, both biomechanical and clinical, are needed. At present, synthetic materials are being investigated under rigid controls, and none have been released for general clinical use. Indications are limited to cases of chronic instability in which autogenous tissues are insufficient or unusable.