title: [Experimental study of tendon graft fixation in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with cortical press-fit bolt in rabbits].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the histological outcomes of tendon-bone healing in anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction with cortical press-fit bolt (CPB).
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-four healthy female or male New Zealand White rabbits (2-3 months old) underwent bilateral ACL reconstruction with extensor digitorum longus tendon. A random method was used to decide one knee would receive the routine ACL reconstruction (control group) and another cortical press-fit bolt fixation (experimental group). After general anesthesia, extensor digitorum longus tendon was harvested and ACL reconstruction performed. All animals were sacrificed at 4, 8 and 12 weeks postoperation. Radiological and histological examinations were made at each timepoint. The specimens were stained with different methods to observe the pathological changes of tendon graft, bone tunnel and cortical press-fit bolt.
  
  
  RESULTS
  More revascularization and massive new bone were found in tendon-bone junction of experimental group at 4, 8 and 12 weeks postoperation. The circum-graft new vessel proportion of the experimental and control groups were 0.48 ± 0.12 and 0.26 ± 0.05 respectively (P < 0.05). In the experimental group, more cartilage cells were present in tendon-bone junction at 12 weeks and the circum-graft new bone areas in two groups were 0.41 ± 0.11 and 0.21 ± 0.10 mm(2) respectively (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cortical press-fit blot may improve tendon-bone healing after ACL reconstruction in rabbits. The application prospects of this procedure are promising.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Qi
authors.forename: Chun-bao
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Jun-liang
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Juan-li
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Yu-jie
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016118:Anterior Cruciate Ligament / Q000601:surgery*; D059549:Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction / Q000379:methods*; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D011817:Rabbits; D013709:Tendon Transfer; D014945:Wound Healing