Background: We developed a novel technique to improve tendon-bone attachment by hybridizing calcium\r\nphosphate (CaP) with a tendon graft using an alternate soaking process. However, the long-term result with regard\r\nto the interface between the tendon graft and the bone is unclear.\r\nMethods: We analyzed bone tunnel enlargement by computed tomography and histological observation of the\r\ninterface and the tendon graft with and without the CaP hybridization 2 years after anterior cruciate ligament\r\n(ACL) reconstruction in goats using EndoButton and the postscrew technique (CaP, n = 4; control, n = 4).\r\nResults: The tibial bone tunnel enlargement rates in the CaP group were lower than those in the control group (p\r\n< 0.05). In the CaP group, in the femoral and tibial bone tunnels at the anterior and posterior of the joint aperture\r\nsite, direct insertion-like formation that contained a cartilage layer without tidemarks was more observed at the\r\ntendon-bone interface than in the control group (p < 0.05). Moreover, the gap area between the tendon graft and\r\nthe bone was more observed at the femoral bone tunnel of the joint aperture site in the control group than in\r\nthe CaP group (p < 0.05). The maturation of the tendon grafts determined using the ligament tissue maturation\r\nindex was similar in both groups.\r\nConclusions: The CaP-hybridized tendon graft enhanced the tendon-bone healing 2 years after ACL reconstruction\r\nin goats. The use of CaP-hybridized tendon grafts can reduce the bone tunnel enlargement and gap area\r\nassociated with the direct insertion-like formation in the interface near the joint.
Loading....