[Histologic changes in fascia lata transplants in the replacement of the anterior cruciate ligament of the knee in dogs].

Lesions of the anterior cruciate ligament of the knee are very frequent misfortune and the results of their suture being insufficient yet, made us to explore the possibility to replace the damaged ligament with the fascia lata as an autologous transplant. Surgical operation was performed on dogs. Instead of the anterior cruciate ligament removed, we used a piece of a rolled fascia lata. Six months after transplantation being performed, samples of the fascia lata were extracted for histological analysis to assess their structure and to evaluate the transplant as a neoligament, on the basis of its similarity with the normal structure of the ligament. After degeneration of a part of transplant because of the insufficient supply of nutrients, the invasion of the synovial blood vessels into the fascia lata was established and the young granulation tissue formed on the account of the nondifferentiated adventitial cells. In the mosaic of the transplant structure there were present parts of a more mature, dense connective tissue with longitudinal orientation of the cells, the fibers and the vascular elements, which partially made structure similar to that in ligaments. In the attachment region fibrocartilage was noticed, gradually passing into the hyaline one, to merge with the hyaline cartilage of the joint surface. After the histological analysis follows the conclusion that fascia lata functionally could replace the anterior cruciate ligament if a role was supplied with sufficient collagenic fibers on the cross-section. Time is of a high importance, too.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)