Treatment of the medial collateral ligament injury, II:​ structure and function of canine knees in response to differing treatment regimens

Woo, Savio L.-Y.; Inoue, Masahiro; McGurk-Burleson, Erin; Gomez, Mark A.

Affiliations

¹Orthopaedic Bioengineering Laboratory, San Diego Veterans Administration Medical Center, Malcolm and Dorothy Coutts Institute for Joint Reconstruction and Research, and the University of California, San Diego, LaJolla, California

Abstract

In order to assess the healing of the medial collateral ligament (MCL) and to detect the various effects of treatment regimens, in vivo animal experiments using a canine model were performed. Thirty-five canine MCLs were surgically transected and treated using three clinically popular regimens, e.g., no repair with cage and farm activities (Group 1), repair with 3 weeks immobilization (Group 2), and repair with 6 weeks im mobilization (Group 3). The varus-valgus laxity of the knee joint, structural properties of the femur-MCL-tibia (FMT) complex and the mechanical properties of the MCL substance (healing site) were quantitatively meas ured at 6, 12, and 48 weeks postoperatively. It was found that Group 1 animals had the best results. The varus-valgus laxity of the knee joint and the structural properties of the FMT complex returned to values comparable with the contralateral control by 12 weeks. The recovery of the mechanical properties of the MCL substance was slower and not complete, even at 48 weeks. In confirmation with previous studies, prolonged immobilization was shown to have deleterious effects on MCL healing. The results of this study indicated that early mobilization is the treatment of choice in cases of isolated MCL injury. Also, this study emphasized the importance and effectiveness of using various biome chanical parameters in addition to the conventional ultimate values at failure to evaluate the progress of soft tissue repair.

Links

DOI: 10.1177/03635465870150010

PubMed: 3812858

WoS: A1987F856600004

Cited Works (7)

Year	Entry
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Cited By (20)

Year	Entry
2003	Woo SL-Y, Abramowitch SD, Loh JC, Musahl V, Wang JH-C. Ligament healing: present status and the future of functional tissue engineering. In: Guilak F, Butler DL, Goldstein SA, Mooney DJ, eds. Functional Tissue Engineering. New York, NY: Inc., Springer-Verlag; 2003:17-34.
1992	Woo SL-Y, Ohland KJ, Fu FH. Healing and repair of knee ligaments relating to sports injury. In: Proceedings of the 2nd Injury Prevention Through Biomechanics Symposium. April 10-11, 1992; Detroit, MI.3-6.
2000	Woo SL-Y, Debski RE, Zeminski J, Abramowitch SD, Chan Saw SS, Fenwick JA. Injury and repair of ligaments and tendons. Annu Rev Biomed Eng. 2000;2:83-118.
1997	Renström PAFH, Konradsen L. Ankle ligament injuries. Br J Sports Med. March 1997;31(1):11-20.
1991	Weiss JA, Woo SL-Y, Ohland KJ, Horibe S, Newton PO. Evaluation of a new injury model to study medial collateral ligament healing: primary repair versus nonoperative treatment. J Orthop Res. July 1991;9(4):516-528.
2001	Wang VM-W. Biomechanics of the Normal and Surgically Reconstructed Shoulder [PhD thesis]. Columbia University; 2001.
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