What is the best candidate allograft for ACL reconstruction? An in vitro mechanical and histologic study in a canine model.

The knee joint is generally characterized by very low friction and high wear resistance. Several previous studies have compared ACL with the commonly used allografts from tensile properties perspective. No study has reported about the graft tendons from a frictional perspective, which is an important parameter for ACL functional performance. Twenty hind legs were used to harvest FDP tendon, ACL, ACH, and patellar tendon. Samples were evaluated with surface friction testing, indentation testing for tendon compressive moduli, lubricin immunohistochemistry, and histologic analysis. Frictional force of FDP tendon and ACL was significantly less than that of patellar tendon and ACH at first and fifth cycles. At the tenth cycle, the FDP tendon, ACL, and ACH showed significantly less frictional force than patellar tendon; after 100 cycles, the FDP tendon and ACL showed significantly less frictional force than patellar tendon. The compressive moduli of the FDP tendon, ACL, and ACH were significantly greater than that of patellar tendon. Histologic results showed that FDP tendon and ACL had a smooth surface with a thin layer of epitenon cells; patellar tendon and ACH had a rough surface and a layer of paratenon. Lubricin was found on the surface and extracellular matrix of FDP tendon and ACL. There was only limited lubricin expression on the surface and extracellular matrix of the ACH and patellar tendon. The FDP tendon has friction force and lubricin expression similar to those of native ACL. However, patellar tendon and ACH show higher friction force and less lubricin expression than ACL.