Comparative analysis of four types of synthetic anterior cruciate ligament replacement in the goat: in vivo histological and mechanical findings.

The in vivo biological and mechanical performance of four artificial anterior cruciate ligament replacements, available for clinical use, was examined in the goat over a period of 2 yr. The prostheses used in the study were manufactured from polytetrafluoroethylene, Dacron or a composite of Dacron and carbon fibres. Histologically, no device was found to perform adequately both intraosseously and intra-articularly. The breaking load for each device immediately after insertion and after 12 month was found to be lower than that of the normal anterior cruciate ligament. All devices were found to have partially or completely ruptured intra-articularly after 2 yr.