title: Ultimate tensile strength of a Leeds-Keio/autograft ACL reconstruction utilizing PLLA tibial staple fixation.
abstract: An ovine model of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction was utilized to evaluate the biomechanical and histological response of a polylactic acid tibial fixation staple (Gunze Ltd., Japan/Zimmer, Japan). This was performed in a comparison with metallic staples, currently utilized for this procedure. The prosthesis consisted of autograft combined with a Leeds-Keio (L-K) ligament. Early post-operative mobilization was followed by retrieval of specimens at 6, 12 and 24 weeks post-reconstruction. Evaluation of the mechanical characteristics of the graft reconstructions (tensile strength) showed no significant differences (P>0.05) between the staple types for each time period. The histological response to the polylactic acid staple was minimal over the time period studied, with no adverse tissue reactions observed. The mode of reconstruction failure was observed to change with time (P<0.05) presumably as the graft characteristics alter. Overall the absorbable staples performed at a comparable level with the metallic staples within the scope of the study.
authors.affiliation: Orthopedic Unit, Repatriation General Hospital, Flinders University of South Australia, Daws Rd., Daw Park, Australia. lantbruks@bigpond.com
authors.forename: John R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Field
authors.forename: Trevor C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Hearn
authors.forename: John J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Costi
authors.forename: Margaret
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: McGee
authors.forename: Kerry
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Costi
authors.forename: Nobuo
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Adachi
authors.forename: Mitsuo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ochi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016118:Anterior Cruciate Ligament / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D019344:Lactic Acid; D011091:Polyesters; D011108:Polymers; D011184:Postoperative Period; D019736:Prostheses and Implants / Q000592:standards*; D012756:Sheep; D013537:Sutures / Q000592:standards*; D013718:Tensile Strength
chemical_list: D011091:Polyesters; D011108:Polymers; D019344:Lactic Acid; C033616:poly(lactide)