title: Synthetic grafts for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.
abstract: Several artificial biomaterials are available as ligament grafts. No ideal prosthesis mimicking natural human tissue have been found to date. The emerging field of tissue engineering holds the promise to use artificial ligaments as a viable alternative to the patellar or hamstring tendon autografts. Preliminary studies support the idea that these biomaterials have the ability to provide an alternative for autogenous grafts. However, no definitive conclusions have been found. Additionally, the incidence of postoperative complications varies within different studies. Prospective investigations are required to better understand the potential of artificial biomaterials as ligament grafts.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery, Campus Bio-Medico University, Via Alvaro del Portillo, 200, 00128 Trigoria, Rome, Italy. g.longo@unicampus.it.
authors.forename: Umile Giuseppe
authors.initials: UG
authors.lastname: Longo
authors.forename: Giacomo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rizzello
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Berton
authors.forename: Caterina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fumo
authors.forename: Ludovica
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Maltese
authors.forename: Wasim S
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Denaro
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016118:Anterior Cruciate Ligament / Q000637:transplantation*; D000070598:Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001705:Bioprosthesis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002244:Carbon; D000077482:Carbon Fiber; D006801:Humans; D011091:Polyesters; D011093:Polyethylene Terephthalates; D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends; D023822:Tissue Engineering; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D000077482:Carbon Fiber; D011091:Polyesters; D011093:Polyethylene Terephthalates; D002244:Carbon; D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene