Effects of suture choice on biomechanics and physeal status after bio-enhanced ACL repair in skeletally immature patients Πa large animal study

Introduction: Recent studies have introduced the groundwork for a new treatment option for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) ruptures: bioenhanced ACL repair(1). Briefly, this procedure is a primary suture repair of the ACL augmented by the implantation of a collagenous biomaterial soaked with platelet-rich plasma into the ACL defect along with a “suture stent” to initially protect the healing ligament (Figure 1). Our first hypothesis was that suture choice, using either absorbable suture (Vicryl, Ethicon, Somerville, NJ) or non-absorbable suture (Ethibond, Ethicon, Somerville, NJ), would haven an effect on physeal function. The second hypothesis was that the biomechanical outcomes of repairs performed with absorbable would be inferior to those with nonabsorbable sutures after 15 weeks of healing.