Long-term study of the biochemistry and biomechanics of anterior cruciate ligament-patellar tendon autografts in goats.
This study examined the change in type-III collagen concentration and hydroxypyridinium crosslink density of anterior cruciate ligament-patellar tendon autografts and their correlations with Young's modulus of the anterior cruciate autografts and anterior cruciate controls for as long as 3 years after surgery. Fifteen adult female goats (two control and 13 experimental) were tested. Each experimental animal received an anterior cruciate ligament-patellar tendon autograft to the right knee. These animals were tested at 0 (n = 2), 6 (n = 2), 12 (n = 2), and 24 (n = 1) weeks and 1 (n = 3) and 3 (n = 3) years after surgery. After mechanical testing, the anterior cruciate autograft and control tissues were analysed for type-III collagen concentration and hydroxypyridinium crosslink density. The results of sodium dodecyl sulfate gel electrophoresis showed a trend of initial increase in the percentage of type-III collagen in the anterior cruciate ligament autografts and a subsequent decrease after 24 weeks following surgery. There was a nonsignificant (p > 0.05) negative correlation between type-III collagen concentration and Young's modulus. The hydroxypyridinium crosslink density was highest at 1 year after surgery. There was a significant (p < 0.05) positive correlation between hydroxypyridinium crosslink density and Young's modulus in the anterior cruciate autografts and controls. This suggests that hydroxypyridinium crosslink density has a good linear relationship with the material strength of the anterior cruciate ligament autograft and hence could be used as an objective guide for rehabilitation with anterior cruciate autografts.
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Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon.
Oakes
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Deacon
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McLean
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ID
Eyre
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D000818:Animals; D016118:Anterior Cruciate Ligament / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D003094:Collagen / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006041:Goats; D006909:Hydroxyproline / Q000378:metabolism*; D010329:Patella; D013710:Tendons / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000637:transplantation*; D013997:Time Factors; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous
D003094:Collagen; D006909:Hydroxyproline