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Histological changes and apoptosis of cartilage layer in human anterior cruciate ligament tibial insertion after rupture

  • Knee
  • Published:
Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy Aims and scope

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to investigate the histological changes and apoptosis of cartilaginous layers in human anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tibial insertion at different time periods after rupture. By using a core reamer, 35 tibial insertions of ruptured ACLs were obtained during primary ACL reconstructions (number of days after injury: 19–206 days). A histological examination was performed and a terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL) staining assay was carried out to detect apoptosis. The average thickness of the cartilage layer, the glycosaminoglycan-stained area and the number of chondrocytes per millimeter decreased with time. The percentage average of TUNEL-positive chondrocytes was 42.0 ± 16.2. The histological degenerative changes of the cartilage layer in the ruptured ACL tibial insertion progressed with time, especially in the first 2 months. Moreover, chondrocyte apoptosis continued from 19 to 206 days after rupture. The results may help elucidate the etiology of the histological changes of the insertion, and may help in devising optimal treatment protocols for ACL injuries if apoptosis is controlled. Moreover, we consider that using a surviving ligament and minimizing a debridement of ACL remnant during ACL reconstruction may be important for ACL reconstruction to maintain cartilage layers in ACL insertions.

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Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank Dr. Akihiro Kanamori and Ms. Jennifer Kanamori for their suggestions. The authors thank the Core Research for Evolutional Science and Technology (CREST) Program, and the Leading Project (LP) of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan for financial support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8575, Japan

    Hirotaka Mutsuzaki, Masataka Sakane, Tomoo Ishii & Naoyuki Ochiai

  2. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Ichihara Hospital, 3681 Ozone, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 300-3295, Japan

    Kotaro Ikeda

  3. Department of Agriculture, Ibaraki University, 3-21-1 Chuuou, Ami, Ibaraki, 300-0393, Japan

    Shinya Hattori

  4. Department of Metallurgy and Ceramics Science, Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 2-12-1 Ookayama, Meguro, Tokyo, 152-8550, Japan

    Junzo Tanaka

Authors
  1. Hirotaka Mutsuzaki
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  2. Masataka Sakane
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  3. Kotaro Ikeda
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  4. Tomoo Ishii
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  5. Shinya Hattori
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  6. Junzo Tanaka
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  7. Naoyuki Ochiai
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Correspondence to Masataka Sakane.

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Mutsuzaki, H., Sakane, M., Ikeda, K. et al. Histological changes and apoptosis of cartilage layer in human anterior cruciate ligament tibial insertion after rupture. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 15, 602–609 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-006-0264-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-006-0264-x

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