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Medial collateral ligament replacement with a partially absorbable tissue scaffold

Section of Orthopaedic Surgery, UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey

J.R. Parsons, PHD

Section of Orthopaedic Surgery, UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey

H. Alexander, PHD

Section of Orthopaedic Surgery, UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey

A.B. Weiss, MD

Section of Orthopaedic Surgery, UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey

The medial collateral ligaments and medial capsular structures of canines were resected and replaced with a carbon fiber-polylactic acid polymer tissue scaffold or allowed simply to "scar-in." After 4, 8, 12, and 26 weeks in vivo, the stability of the knees was quantitatively evaluated and the mechanical properties of the regrown structures determined. Histological sections of the re grown structures were examined after 26 weeks in vivo.

At all time periods, the knees receiving tissue scaffold ligaments were signifiicantly more stable than those knees allowed to stabilize with scar tissue. Initial strength, rapid ingrowth, and benign tissue reaction suggest this new composite material may be useful in the treatment of joint instability.