Baciu C. C. 1, Soare Gabriela 1, Vișoianu A. 1, Paun M. A. 2, Stanciulescu Elena-Luminita 1, Popescu Gh. I. 1, Barbilian Gh.A. 3
1 Clinical Emergency Hospital Bucharest
2 Clinical Emergency Hospital “Prof. Dr. Agrippa Ionescu”, Bucharest
3 University Emergency Central Military Hospital “Dr. Carol Davila” Bucharest
Abstract
It is already known that the lesion of the anterior cruciate ligament is one of the most frequent knee pathologies especially for professional sportsmen, but also for the active average age population. The reconstruction can be performed using a biological graft (allograft or auto graft), or an artificial implant (substitution or strengthening – augmentation). Each graft is characterized by advantages and disadvantages related to the manner in which is taken, resistance, fixing, reliability, complications and sequelae. The future perspective is represented by biological material: natural or synthetic collagen matrixes and fibers close to the histologic structure of the ligament. We used for this study two animal specimens (domestic pigs). We implanted an experimental heterogenous model of a mixture between collagen type I and synthetic matrix in one knee of a specimen. For the second specimen we used a synthetic graft made from polyethylene terephthalate. We evaluated both knees of the specimens at three months, visualizing them arthroscopically and taking samples of articular fluid, synovial membrane and ligament graft, and comparing with the native ones. Arthroscopic look showed a better integration of the mixed graft and a similar macroscopic aspect with the native ligament being covered with a thin collagen type I layer. The result was creating a heterogeneous experimental model that is more effective than the actual grafts used to this date, being much easier integrated by the organism andhas a surface similar biological structure with native ACL.