Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Studies show that the platelet-rich plasma (PRP) gel cannot improve the regeneration of bone and it may be lost or inactivated rapidly by synovial fluid.
OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of PRP combined with deproteinized bone (DPB) on the biomechanical property of tendon-bond interface at the early stage after reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL).
METHODS: New Zealand white rabbits were divided into normal group, model group, experimental group, and control group. The later three groups were used to prepare ACL reconstruction model. Nothing was implanted into the bone tunnel of the model group while DPB and PRP+DPB were implanted into the control group and experimental group respectively.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: At 2 and 4 weeks after surgery, the mainly tensile unload way in each group was that the transplanted tendon was extracted from the bone tunnel. At 8 weeks, the way mainly in the experimental group was tendon tearing, while for the control group and model group, majority of the transplanted tendons were still extracted from the bone tunnels. The differences had statistical significance (P < 0.05). At 12 weeks, tendon tearing was the main reason of tensile unloading for all of the groups. The maximum tensile load in the experimental group was obviously higher than those of the control and model groups at 4 and 8 weeks after surgery (P < 0.05); the differences had no significance at 12 weeks (P > 0.05), however, the difference between the experimental group and the normal group was still significant (P < 0.01). The difference in stiffness of each group was increased as time went on, but the differences between each group were not significant (P > 0.05). PRP+DPB can reinforce the biomechanics strength of the tendon-bond interface in the early stage.