Poor results of bovine xenograft for knee cruciate ligament repair.

In 28 patients the anterior cruciate ligament of the knee was substituted with a bovine bioprosthesis (Xenograft). Five patients underwent reoperations due to synovitis and graft rupture during the first postoperative year; and 2 patients, due to graft rupture after 3 years. After 3 years, 11/21 patients with a remaining graft had a rupture. Totally, 18/28 implanted grafts were considered to be ruptured. Our results indicate that the Xenograft in its present form should not be used.