[Ligament replacement with polydioxanone (PDS)]

Experimentations on animals have been performed in order to verify the applicability of the slowly resorbable suturing material Polydioxanon (PDS) in the transposition of ligaments in general and the transposition of cruciate ligaments in particular. After six weeks, the absorption of a twisted cord of 2 mm diameter still has a traction tolerance of 58%. The experimentations made on rabbits and sheep suggest that PDS can be used to fasten ligament sutures and to reinforce ligament grafts. Under extremely favorable soft tissue conditions, the substance can even be used as ligament substitute. Good clinical results can be achieved in the problematic plastic surgery of the anterior cruciate ligament if the reinforcement of the autologous transplant is performed with PDS in the sense of an augmentation graft.