Short-Term Changes of Graft Viscosity after Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction / 医用生物力学

ABSTRACT

Objective To study the short-term variation patterns of graft viscosity after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) surgery. Methods Six male New Zealand rabbits were selected. The ACLR animal model of unilateral knee was made with Achilles tendon as the graft. The experimental rabbits were euthanized 15 days after ACLR surgery, with removal of the graft, healthy anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and Achilles tendon. The cross-sectional area and viscosity coefficient of the graft were measured, and the creep experiments were carried out under equilibrium conditions of 0.1 MPa and 1 MPa, respectively. The viscosity coefficent was calculated. Variation patterns of graft viscosity were summarize. The grafts were compared with healthy ACL. Results The cross-sectional area of the graft increased slowly within 15 days after ACLR surgery. The viscosity of ACL and graft changed nonlinearly. The viscosity coefficient was quite different under different stresses. The viscosity coefficient of the graft decreased with the time after ACLR surgery, which was more obviously under the condition of low stress. Conclusions The results are helpful to guide the implementation of early postoperative rehabilitation plan after ACLR surgery .