A biomechanical evaluation of orthotopic ligament transplantation in a rabbit model

Results showed that ligament autografts placed at abnormally reduced loads were mechanically inferior to normal or excessively loaded grafts at twelve weeks. This tensioning effect, however, was no longer present by 48 weeks post-operatively. These results suggest that normal or excessive graft tensioning at the time of surgery should result in improved early post-operative graft performance.

Since the graft cells are thought to be the primary focus of rejection, it was postulated that acellular or "dead" grafts would be less immunogenic, and possibly could improve the results of ligament allografts. I therefore investigated the extremes of graft cell viability--"viable" or "dead" in a non-immunologic autograft model of ligament transplantation.

Although only subtle differences in the mechanical behaviour of the fresh and frozen-thawed ligaments were present initially, my results showed that marked differences were present after twelve weeks of graft healing and persisted over time. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)