Abstract
Background: For a tendon graft to function as an anterior cruciate ligament, the tendon must heal to the bone tunnel. We studied the effect of 4 weeks of implantation on the strength and stiffness of a tendon in a bone tunnel using two different fixation devices in an ovine model.
Hypothesis: The type of fixation device in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction may affect early healing, which can be measured as the strength and stiffness of a tendon in a bone tunnel.
Study Design: Controlled laboratory study.
Methods: An extraarticular tendon graft reconstruction was performed in ovine tibias. The graft was fixed with either a bioresorbable interference screw or a WasherLoc. After 4 weeks of implantation the strength and stiffness of the complex and the tendon graft-bone tunnel interface were determined by incrementally loading specimens to failure.
Results: For the interference screw, the strength deteriorated 63% and the stiffness deteriorated 40%. For the WasherLoc, the strength was similar and the stiffness improved 136%.
Conclusions: The type of fixation device determines whether the strength and stiffness of a tendon in a bone tunnel increases or decreases after implantation.
Clinical Relevance: The pace of rehabilitation may need to be adjusted based on the type of fixation device used to secure a soft tissue graft.
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