Evaluation of Bone Tunnel Placement for Suture Augmentation of an Injured Anterior Cruciate Ligament: Effects on Joint Stability in a Goat Model

Use of novel tissue engineering approaches to heal an injured anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) requires suture repair and/or augmentation to provide Joint stability We evaluated the effects of the location of suture augmentation at the femur and tibia in terms of.toint stability using a goat model Eight goat stifle joints were tested with augmentation sutures placed in two femoral tunnel locations (1) anterior to, or (2) through the ACL footprint, and two tibial tunnel locations (1) medial to, or (2) medial and lateral to the footprint Using a robotic/universal force-moment sensor testing system, the anterior tibial translation (ATT) and the corresponding in situ force carried by the sutures were obtained at 30 degrees, 60 degrees, and 90 degrees of flexion in response to external loads No significant differences were found between augmentation groups clue to tunnel location in terms of ATT or the in situ forces carried by the sutures at all flexion angles tested. Similar results were found under 5 N m of varus-valgus torque Under a 67 N anterior tibial load, the AN was restored to within :3mm of the intact joint following suture augmentation (p > 0 05) Suture augmentation, when placed close to the ACL insertion, could be helpful in providing initial joint stability to aid ACL healing in the goat model. (C) 2010 Orthopaedic Research Society Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc J Orthop Res 28 1373-1379, 2010