Biomechanical evaluation of bovine stifles stabilized with an innovative braided superelastic nitinol prosthesis after transection of the cranial cruciate ligament

Abstract

ObjectiveTo determine the stability bovine stifles stabilized with nylon or nitinol superelastic prostheses after transection of the cranial cruciate ligament (CCL).Study designEx vivo study.Sample populationStifles (n = 15) harvested from adult bovine cadavers.MethodsThe stifles were randomly assigned pairwise to a ligament reconstruction technique (n = 5): (1) and (2) Hamilton's technique using a prosthesis made of 24 nitinol strands (0.39 mm) braided at 40°or single 600‐lb test nylon implant, and (3) nitinol prosthesis placed in femoral and tibial bone tunnels (bone‐to‐bone). Craniocaudal tibial translation at ±2000 N was applied to the tibia, and mediolateral angular displacement via measured under torsional tibial loading at ±60 Nm on three occasions: intact CCL, transected, and stabilized. Outcomes were evaluated with a mixed effect linear model for repeated measures.ResultsBone‐to‐bone using nitinol was the only repair that decreased tibial translation after CCL transection (p = .001) with a 23% change magnitude compared with intact CCL. Hamilton was the only stabilization reestablishing angular displacement, similar to intact CCL (p = .109 and .134 for nitinol and nylon). Bone‐to‐bone nitinol stabilization decreased angular displacement after CCL‐transection with an 8% change magnitude (p = .040) without returning to normal values.ConclusionCCL replacement with nylon did restore joint stability. Nitinol prostheses passed through single femoral and tibial bone tunnels (bone‐to‐bone) were the only techniques reducing tibial translation.Clinical significance/impactBone‐to‐bone stabilization with a nitinol prosthesis may be considered as an alternative to nylon for CCL replacement in cattle. These results provide evidence to justify clinical evaluation in cattle undergoing CCL replacement.

Biomechanical properties of an implant designed to stabilize the coxofemoral joint following luxation show dissimilarity to the native ligament of the head of the femur in cattle

“…28,29 To support our findings, it is noted that the reported values of the cranial cruciate ligament of the cow and the dog share the same correlation with the cow being one-half the strength of the dog. 29,30 It is, however, possible that our values are falsely low due to our collection and testing techniques. In this study, coxofemoral joints were collected from animals who had died or were euthanized for reasons unrelated to lameness of disease of the coxofemoral joint.…”

Computed tomographic imaging and surgical management of distal insertional avulsion fragments of the caudal cruciate ligament in four horses

“…In human orthopedic surgery, good outcomes are described for the operative screw‐ and wire fixation of dislocated posterior cruciate ligament avulsion fragments 15–17 . Promising results have additionally been proposed considering the stabilization of the bovine cranial cruciate ligament with a nitinol prosthesis 20 . Whether an adaption of this technique might be feasible for the surgical treatment of equine stifle joint instability associated with CdCL avulsion warrants further investigation.…”

“…[15][16][17] Promising results have additionally been proposed considering the stabilization of the bovine cranial cruciate ligament with a nitinol prosthesis. 20 Whether an adaption of this technique might be feasible for the surgical treatment of equine stifle joint instability associated with CdCL avulsion warrants further investigation.…”