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Regenerative Engineering of the Anterior Cruciate Ligament

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Regenerative Strategies for the Treatment of Knee Joint Disabilities

Part of the book series: Studies in Mechanobiology, Tissue Engineering and Biomaterials ((SMTEB,volume 21))

Abstract

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries, both acute and chronic, are common in sport injuries. The presence of the synovial fluid in the knee joint inhibits the spontaneous healing of the ACL, thus requiring surgical intervention. Although current methods to reconstruct the ACL can stabilize the knee joint, the progression of osteoarthritis is not halted. This chapter describes the current clinical methods to reconstruct an injured ACL and new methods to enhance the healing process. Three therapeutic strategies will be discussed in this chapter on the repair of ACL: (1) single bundle versus double bundle surgical techniques, (2) biodegradable matrices for ACL repair, and (3) biological adjuvants to enhance ACL repair. These strategies are promising clinically translatable methods to allow patients to return to normal activity levels and to alleviate pain and discomfort caused by osteoarthritis.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, 06269, USA

    Paulos Y. Mengsteab, Mark McKenna & Cato T. Laurencin

  2. The Raymond and Beverly Sackler Center for Biomedical, Biological, Engineering, and Physical Sciences, University of Connecticut Health, Farmington, CT, 06030, USA

    Paulos Y. Mengsteab, Junqiu Cheng, Zhibo Sun & Cato T. Laurencin

  3. The Institute for Regenerative Engineering, University of Connecticut Health, Farmington, CT, 06030, USA

    Paulos Y. Mengsteab, Zhibo Sun & Cato T. Laurencin

  4. Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University of Connecticut Health, Farmington, CT, 06030, USA

    Paulos Y. Mengsteab, Zhibo Sun & Cato T. Laurencin

  5. Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, 06269, USA

    Cato T. Laurencin

  6. Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, 06269, USA

    Cato T. Laurencin

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  1. Paulos Y. Mengsteab
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  3. Junqiu Cheng
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  4. Zhibo Sun
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  5. Cato T. Laurencin
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. 3B’s Research Group—Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, University of Minho, Guimarães, Portugal

    Joaquim Miguel Oliveira

  2. ICVS/3B’s—PT Government Associate, Laboratory, University of Minho, Guimarães, Portugal

    Rui Luís Reis

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Mengsteab, P.Y., McKenna, M., Cheng, J., Sun, Z., Laurencin, C.T. (2017). Regenerative Engineering of the Anterior Cruciate Ligament. In: Oliveira, J., Reis, R. (eds) Regenerative Strategies for the Treatment of Knee Joint Disabilities. Studies in Mechanobiology, Tissue Engineering and Biomaterials, vol 21. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-44785-8_19

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-44785-8_19

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-44783-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-44785-8

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