title: Collagen ultrastructure in ruptured cruciate ligaments. An electron microscopic investigation.
abstract: The ultrastructure of collagen fibrils was investigated in normal (n 39) and ruptured (n 23) human anterior cruciate ligaments. The normal ligament had a complex three-dimensional structure. Collagen fibrils predominantly had a undirectional course with parallel arrangement and a mean diameter of 75 (20-185) nm. Four days after anterior cruciate ligament rupture, the mean fibril diameter was increased; it later decreased, probably due to synthesis of young, thin 30-40 nm fibrils. Interfibrillar dysplastic collagen fibrils were detected in the extracellular matrix of ruptured ligaments. They were more frequently found later than 3 days after rupture and were seen also at a distance of 2-3 cm from the rupture zone. The presence of dysplastic fibrils may explain the functional insufficiency of the repair tissue in ruptured cruciate ligaments.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, University of Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Neurath
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Stofft
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000070598:Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries; D003094:Collagen / Q000145:classification / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D017348:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning Transmission; D008875:Middle Aged; D012421:Rupture; D013997:Time Factors; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D003094:Collagen