The use of autografts and synthetic carbon fibers in reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament--an experimental study on dogs.

Biological characteristics and strength of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) after replacement by an artificial carbon fibers ligament--(group 1) and autograft--fascia lata (group 2) were investigated. These two methods were compared in four periods of time by means of clinical course, laboratory parameters, histopathological analysis and biomechanical testing on an Instron apparatus. Strength of neoligament in both examined groups has never achieved the strength of natural, unaffected ACL, and there was no significant difference between two observed groups in relation to clinical and laboratory parameters. Histopathological examination showed the presence of ingrowing of the connective tissue between carbon fibers, but in bone tunnels inside the fibers there was no ingrowing between bone trabeculae. In the group 2, collagenic fibers of the fascia lata were substituted with predominantly elastic connective tissue, with epithelium, similar to synovial, on the surface. No absolute superiority of carbon fibers to fascia lata as a substituent of the anterior cruciate ligament of a dog knee, as an experimental analog, was proved in this study.