Mechanical properties of primate vascularized vs. nonvascularized patellar tendon grafts; changes over time

• DOI: 10.1002/jor.1100070110
• Publication Date: 2005-02-24T12:50:10Z
• Authors: David L. Butler; Edward S. Grood; Frank R. Noyes; Marvin L. Olmstead; R. Bruce Hohn; Steven P. Arnoczky; Mark G. Siegel
• Keywords: Vascularity; Patellar ligament

Abstract Mechanical properties of patellar tendon autografts used to replace the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in cynomolgus monkey were measured at four time periods up 1 year. The ACL was replaced each knee with medial half tendon: as a vascularized graft (VG) on one side and nonvascularized or free (FG) other. Postoperative care consisted 4 weeks cast immobilization 30° flexion followed by unrestricted activity large cage. Both grafts showed low stiffness maximum force 7 (24% 16% control values, respectively), increasing 57% 39% Corresponding material properties, modulus stress, also increased over time, but year only 34% 26% respectively. results indicate that retaining vascularity does not prevent significant reduction occur postoperatively, nor it accelerate return strength stiffness. Tissue stiffness, which returns earlier than joint anteroposterior (AP) displacement data, should be routinely reported any healing study. Finally, studies this kind, variation makes sampling two animals from period unreliable.