Paper #55 Effects of administration of transforming growth factor-beta into the bone tunnel on tendon graft healing within the tunnel in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction

Abstract

A firm attachment of a tendon graft to the bone is a significant factor for the success in anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. Our previous studies have shown that the bonding strength of the flexor tendon autograft to the tunnel wall is inferior to that of the bone-patellar tendon-bone (BTB) graft in the earliest several weeks after ACL reconstruction (JARR, 2001). Therefore, it is important to study therapeutic methods to increase the bonding strength of the flexor tendon graft in this early phase. It has been well known that transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) stimulates the cell proliferation and collagen synthesis in tendon fibroblasts. Therefore, we have hypothesized that administration of TGF-beta 1 into the bone tunnel may enhance in vivo healing of flexor tendon graft within the tunnel in ACL reconstruction. The purpose of this study is to test this hypothesis with a canine model.