title: A novel core biopsy technique for anterior cruciate ligament preserves ligament structural integrity: a porcine study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to validate a new technique to safely obtain core biopsy specimens of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) without jeopardizing the ACL's biomechanical properties.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eleven pairs of fresh porcine femur-ACL-tibia complexes were tested in a loading frame. The ACL of one knee was biopsied using a spring-loaded core biopsy device, whereas the contralateral ACL was tested as the control. Biomechanical properties of the biopsied and control ACLs were compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The ultimate load to failure was 1,202 N ± 171.1 N and 1,193 N ± 228.7 N (P = .8984) for biopsied and non-biopsied ACLs, respectively. No significant differences were noted for maximal elongation at failure, maximal strain, absorbed energy, and stiffness between biopsied and non-biopsied ACLs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this study indicate that a new ACL core biopsy technique can be performed while preserving the ligament's structural integrity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The presented core biopsy technique could be regarded as a dedicated tool to elucidate the poorly understood (patho)biological processes occurring in both the native and reconstructed ACLs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery & Traumatology, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium. Electronic address: myllemichiel@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Michiel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mylle
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery & Traumatology, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Claes
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery & Traumatology, University Hospital Gent, Gent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Verdonk
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery & Traumatology, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Johan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bellemans
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016118:Anterior Cruciate Ligament / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D001706:Biopsy / Q000379:methods*; D002102:Cadaver; D013552:Swine