2023 ISAKOS Biennial Congress ePoster
Favorable Recellularization and Tendon-Bone Integration Abilities of Four Strand Decellularized Bovine Tendon Graft in a Sheep Model
Junya Itou, MD, Tokyo JAPAN
Masafumi Itoh, MD, PhD, Tokyo JAPAN
Umito Kuwashima, Tokyo, Please Select JAPAN
Ken Okazaki, MD, PhD, Tokyo JAPAN
Kiyotaka Iwasaki, Prof, Shinjuku-Ku, Tokyo JAPAN
Tokyo Women’s Medical University, Shinjuku, Tokyo, JAPAN
FDA Status Not Applicable
Summary
Favorable recellularization and tendon-bone integration abilities of four strand decellularized bovine tendon graft in a sheep model were shown.
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Abstract
Introduction
Decellularized tendons are attracting attention as a graft for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction without sacrificing autologous tissue. We investigated cell infiltration into decellularized bovine tendon xenografts and functional integrity using a sheep knee ACLR model.
Methods
A total of nine sheep underwent unilateral single bundle ACL reconstruction using decellularized bovine tendon graft. The graft was a four-strand graft based on human ACL reconstruction with the hamstring tendon. The sheep were euthanized after 13weeks and underwent histological and biomechanical assessments. Anteroposterior stability of the knee was assessed. After removal of all other soft tissues, the ACL was loaded to failure.
Results
SECTION: In the intratibial and intrafemoral tunnel graft, a direct insertion was seen (Fig.1). Figure 2 presents histological appearance of the intra- articular graft. Favorable recellularization was shown at 13 weeks. None of the animals had any meniscal tears or evident degenerative alterations to the articular cartilage. Granulation tissue encircled the xenogeneic tendon (Fig.3). Concerning anteroposterior (AP) translation of the tibia relative to the femur under 50 N of AP load, the AP translation was 4.3 mm, 2.6 mm, and 4.1 mm, respectively at 30°,60°, and 90° of knee flexion. In tensile testing, the maximum load was 238 N and the stress was 7.9 MPa.
Discussion
These results are similar to the results after ACL reconstruction models using the autograft. Therefore, the present study suggested that the remodeling process of decellularized bovine tendon graft after four strand ACL reconstruction is not different from that of the autograft in sheep model.
Conclusion
Favorable recellularization and tendon-bone integration abilities of four strand decellularized bovine tendon graft in a sheep model were shown.