Reinforcement of tendons and ligaments with carbon fibers. Four years, 1300 cases.

Carbon fibers have a remarkable quality of compatibility with the ability to induce collagenous tissue, but the growth cannot be controlled and may be troublesome if excessive. Replacement of tendons and ligaments by carbon fibers requires a minimum of three months of immobilization, the time necessary for the newly formed tissue to be effective. It is possible if there is no other choice, as, for example, in surgery of old Achilles tendon ruptures, or in reconstruction of ligaments if all autogenous material has been used in previous operations. The author currently uses carbon fibers not to replace tendons or ligaments but to reinforce some weakness of their surgery. The technique of the reinforcement in surgery of the medical collateral ligament of the knee, in reconstruction of the medial patellar retinaculum, and in surgery of tendinitis of Achilles tendon or patellar ligament has been developed in the treatment of more than 1300 cases.