Medial collateral ligament healing. A multidisciplinary assessment in rabbits.
Medial collateral ligament healing without treatment has been studied in a rabbit model. Complete midsubstance gaps were found to heal by distinct scar formation over time. This healing process was fast since the gap was bridged quickly; however, more subtle changes in appearance of the healing tissue continued for many months. The ligament "scar" was found to be structurally abnormal chemically and mechanically even at long-term followup. A plateau in its improvement suggests that the scar may never approach normal ligament characteristics (without treatment). A baseline of ligament healing by scar formation has been established.
D000818:Animals; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D001834:Body Water / Q000032:analysis; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000473:pathology; D003094:Collagen / Q000032:analysis; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis; D006025:Glycosaminoglycans / Q000032:analysis; D007719:Knee Joint; D008023:Ligaments, Articular / Q000293:injuries* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D011817:Rabbits; D014945:Wound Healing
D006025:Glycosaminoglycans; D003094:Collagen; D004247:DNA