Effects of tendon-bone healing of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction by osteoprotegerin combined with deproteinized bovine bone.

BACKGROUND

The healing of a tendon graft in a bone tunnel depends on bone ingrowth into the interface between tendon and bone, or that can enhance tendon-bone healing, which is important to reduce the failure rate after ACL reconstruction.

METHODS

Sixty skeletally mature, New Zealand white rabbits underwent left ACL reconstruction. OPG/DBB compound (concentration ratio of 30%, 60%, 100%) was delivered to the tendon-bone interface with use of a DBB carrier, and nothing as control group. Twenty animals were killed at 4, 8 and 12 weeks after surgery. I-IV levels of semi-quantitative and Sharpey fibers at the healing tendon-bone interface were evaluated, and the biomechanical properties were tested.

RESULTS

A significantly greater amount of Sharpey fibers at the healing tendon-bone interface in the concentration ratio of 100% OPG/DBB-treated group was found compared with the others at all time-points (P<0.05), and it is the same to the Grade Scores at 12 weeks (P<0.05). The femur-ACL-tibia complex of the concentration ratio of 100% OPG/DBB-treated group has significantly increased stiffness compared with the others at 12 weeks (P<0.05).

CONCLUSION

The concentration ratio of 100% OPG/DBB compound significantly improve bone formation around the grafted tendon and improve the stiffness at the healing tendon-bone junction in a rabbit model.