Summary
Unilateral cranial cruciate ligament (CrCL) reconstruction was performed in forty-eight sheep, to evaluate an absorbable tibial fixation device (Gunze Ltd. Japan/Zimmer Japan). Forty-four (91.6%) were available for end-point evaluation. A medial subpatellar arthrotomy was utilized with graft placement accomplished using the Acufex Graftmaster system (Acufex, Mansfield, MA). A prosthesis was implanted consisting of looped superficial flexor tendon autograft joined to a Leeds- Keio ligament (LK-15). Femoral fixation was accomplished with an endobutton and tibial fixation with staples. Individuals were required to weight-bear immediately following recovery from anaesthesia and in so doing mimic the early mobilization practices currently in vogue in humans following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.
An analgesia protocol involving intraarticular sensory blockade and intravenous agents was utilized and appeared effective in the provision of adequate levels of comfort post- operatively. The model has allowed a significant amount of relevant data to be obtained prior to clinical trials in humans.
Cruciate ligament reconstruction in human patients is often with a view to returning the patient to strenuous athletic endeavour. This paper is presented, not only as a means of displaying what technologies are currently in use in the human patient, but also as a means of suggesting to colleagues, in both the medical and veterinary professions, how research into cruciate reconstruction, using animal models, might be performed with peri-operative care of the animal being of paramount importance.
Keywords
Cranial cruciate ligament - tibial fixation - graft reconstruction - ovine model
