Comparative biomechanical study of the Ligament Plate and other fixation devices in ACL reconstruction.

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate and compare the biomechanical properties of the Ligament Plate with other femoral fixation devices. The Ligament Plate and three different femoral fixation devices were used in fixation of 60 porcine femora and harvested porcine tendons. For each fixation device, a porcine graft-tendon complex was used for the simple load-to-failure test and the load-to-failure test after a cyclic loading test, and the maximal failure load was measured. The amount of graft elongation and failure pattern after the cyclic loading test and load-to-failure test were evaluated. In the BioScrew group, the mean maximal failure load in the load-to-failure test and load-to-failure test after a cyclic loading test was significantly lower and significant graft elongation was noted. There were no significant differences between the other groups. The Ligament Plate provided adequate initial fixation power suitable for early rehabilitation.