Evaluation of the polypropylene braid as a prosthetic anterior cruciate ligament replacement in the dog

The purpose of this scientific investigation, made prior to 1977, was to determine the suitability of a polypropylene prosthetic ACL. The 3.6 mm diamond-braided prosthesis was implanted in 17 dogs. The device was passed through a trough on the anteromedial side of the tibial crest and over the top of the lateral femoral condyle. The device was internally fixed at both ends to bone using a bushing-lag screw technique which resulted in solid prosthesis immobilization at the time of surgery. Animals were necropsied at 3, 6, or 10 months after implantation. There was partial or total disruption of the prosthesis in all cases. Destruction of the prosthesis was attributed to excessive viscoelasticity of the device and fatigue failure. Based on this study, prosthetic ACL replacement using this device is not recommended.