Histological and biochemical analysis of the fibrous tissue induced by implantation of synthetic ligament (Dacron): An experimental study in a rat model

Abstract

We conducted a comparative study to evaluate the quality and true nature of the fibrous tissue formed around synthetic grafts when used in ligament replacement. In one group of Lewis rats, a patellar ligament was replaced with a Dacron prosthesis; the comparison group received a tail tendon isograft. Two-, 4-, 8-, 12-, and 24-week comparisons showed histological and biochemical changes in the Dacron group alone that were consistent with foreign-body reaction. Specifically, the Dacron group showed infiltration by large numbers of macrophages and foreign-body, multinucleated giant cells. In addition, the capsule of fibrous tissue that developed around the Dacron ligaments was characterized by lower collagen solubility, a higher content of noncollagenous protein, and a higher proportion of type III collagen than that comprising the isografted tendons. The results of this study call into question the suitability of synthetics for ligament replacement.

Achilles tendon surgical revision with synthetic augmentation

“…There is still big debate regarding the fact that such fibrous, immature tissue, in the presence of a tensile force, could gradually mature and functionally orient its fibers [6]; it is the opinion of many authors that such evolution of the fibrous tissue does not take place [3, 4] and that the collagen fibers remain in a disordered way, with the risk that the scaffold could be recognized as a chronic foreign‐body. Irie et al [11] demonstrated how the tissue formed after implantation of synthetic grafts (Dacron) was basically nothing but a foreign body granuloma: however, despite the unsatisfactory results, they demonstrated how a certain amount of collagen was detected, and how part of this collagen was also longitudinally oriented: they concluded that perhaps this formed tissue could meet clinical demands, especially in nonathletic patients; indeed they called into question the real suitability of such synthetic grafts.…”

Réaction à corps étranger dans les rhizarthroses traitées par trapézectomie et interposition d’un « anchois » en Dacron©. À propos de cinq cas

“…Une étude de 1992, en comparant la nature du tissu induit par la mise en place d'un ligament en Dacron © contre une isogreffe chez le rat, a mis en évidence une réaction à corps étranger sur tous les implants en Dacron © , concluant même sur l'opportunité de son utilisation [12]... L'utilisation du Dacron © pour le traitement de la rhizarthrose remonte aussi aux années 1970 et des complications similaires à celles que nous avons observé ont déjà fait l'objet d'une publication [13]. Les suites opératoires initiales, la présentation clinique et radiologiques sont identiques.…”