COLLAGEN REPAIR NOT IMPROVED BY FIBRIN ADHESIVE CRUCIATE LIGAMENT RUPTURES STUDIED IN DOGS

The anterior cruciate ligament in 30 dogs was transected and repaired by simple suture. In every other dog, fibrin adhesive (Tisseel Kit, Im muno AG, Vienna, Austria) was applied to the transection area before s uturing. The proportion of organized versus unorganized and inflammato ry tissue formation was assessed histologically. At 3 weeks, the amoun t of normal organized collagenous tissue was reduced to 20 percent bot h without and with fibrin adhesive. After 6 weeks, a substantial incre ase of organized collagenous tissue was observed after suture only, wh ich at 12 weeks reached about 70 percent of the total area In contrast , repair with fibrin adhesive had at 12 weeks only 30 percent of norma l collagenous tissue.