A histologic assessment of canine anterior cruciate substitution with bovine xenograft.

Glutaraldehyde cross-linked bovine xenograft anterior cruciate ligament replacement has been investigated in dogs. The implants were functional for the activities of the dogs at one year of follow-up study. The knees were stable, and the articular surfaces on gross inspection showed only minimal evidence of degenerative changes. Histologic evaluation of the implants demonstrated a progressive ingrowth of the xenograft by host tissues. The host tissues grew parallel to the collagen scaffolding of the graft and consisted of host blood vessels and fibroblastic elements that produced collagen of host origin. The host response was benign in appearance without cellular evidence of rejection phenomena.