Integration of the patellar tendon during the reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament – IN VIVO experiment on common European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus)

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) ruptures are one of the most common injuries of the knee joint. These injuries occur mostly during contact sporting activities (such as ice hockey or football). Whatever the case, the elective therapy is to reconstruct the ACL by means of implanting a graft. During our experiments we wanted to study the integration of the patellar tendon, which we implanted in the distal femur of 4 common European rabbits. The rabbits where sacrificed after 1–3–4,5 and 6 moths post op, and their distal femur removed for histological examination. After one month we could see an aseptic inflammatory process, which meant that the graft had begun integrating. After 3 and 4.5 months respectively we could see host fibroblasts taking over the extracellular matrix left after the aseptic necrosis of the graft, and after 6 months, the graft had been totally integrated. ABSTRACT