The biological reaction of the tissues to carbon fibre ligament prosthesis in sheep-knees.

The biological reaction of the tissues to carbon fibre ligament prosthesis was examined in sheep knees. Connective tissue and bone grew into the alloplastic ligament at the insertion points in cancellous bone. There was tissue ingrowth around the carbon fibres intra- and extra-articularly. The bony ingrowth into the ligament increases with time and there was no resorption present. The carbon fibre ligament should not be used as an internal splint in the fresh ligamentous repairs. The easiest method of ligament replacement in a chronically unstable knee is the application of alloplastic ligament material. Therefore the search for a good substitute has never been given up. Carbon fibres are found to be a very good scaffolding and a permanent prosthesis for ligament replacement [1, 2, 6, 8]. The biocompatibility of carbon fibres in animals has been proved [4, 6, 7]. The mechanical properties, tensile strength and flexibility, make the fibres suitable for use as ligament substitutes. The braiding of carbon fibre bundles has improved its biomechanical properties [3]. In this study the biological reaction of sheep-knees to carbon implants is investigated: 1. Does connective tissue grow into the ligament prosthesis under physiological conditions? 2. Is there tissue growth around the carbon ligaments intraarticularly? 3. Is a C-ligament useful as an internal splint in fresh ligamentous repairs? 4. What is the fate of the bone-ligament interface in long term use?