Materials used for knee ligament grafting

Abstract

The authors have presented the review of scientific literature on producing grafts intended for surgical reconstruction of ligament ruptures. The treatment of ligament ruptures in reconstructive plastic surgery could be performed by using synthetic grafts, autologous and allogenic grafts from tissue donors. Advantages of synthetic grafts include the possibility of their regular manufacturing under sterile conditions, and providing mechanical properties, high biocompatibility. However, synthetic implants significantly increase the risk of synovitis and other complications, they can not be replaced by the native tissue, and have no ability to regeneration. Autologous grafts have ideal tissue compatibility and quick biointegration, could be harvested from different anatomical sites, but commonly the graft harvesting is followed by donor site morbidity and potential risk of injury nerves, elongates operation time, bad cosmetic results. The use of autografts may be also limited by anatomical features of the patient. Allogenic ligament biomaterial could provide wide range of grafts, but in our days there is no standardized methods for ligament graft sterilization and long storage. Wellknown sterilization methods, such as ionized radiation and chemical treatment, gave controversial results. One could conclude that estimation of ligament graft viability must include a complex study of biomechanical properties, cell and fibers integrity.