title: Immediate strength after suture of a torn anterior cruciate ligament.
abstract: In an animal model we determined the strength of anterior cruciate ligaments (ACL) after section and repair by four different methods and compared it with that of the intact ligament. The standard suturing technique of multiple loops through the ligament stumps was used. Stronger suture material did not give a stronger repair. Wrapping a fine polyester mesh around the ligament or placing it between the bundles before suture increased the strength of the repair. This modification, allied to protective rehabilitation, may reduce the failure rate of acute ACL repairs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, London, UK.
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Radford
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Amis
authors.forename: F W
authors.initials: FW
authors.lastname: Heatley
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016118:Anterior Cruciate Ligament / Q000502:physiology / Q000601:surgery*; D000070598:Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D002417:Cattle; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D013536:Suture Techniques; D013537:Sutures