Paper 264: Local Administration of Synovium-derived Fibroblasts Cultured in TGF-beta1-supplemented Medium Inhibits Natural Reduction of the Structural Properties of the Tendon Autograft after ACL Reconstruction: A Sheep Model Study

It has been well known that structural properties of a tendon autograft become deteriorated during the remodeling phase after ACL reconstruction, and that the reduced properties are not completely restored even at 12 months after surgery.[1,2] Therefore, it is needed to study on preventing the graft deterioration after ligament reconstruction or accelerating to restore the deteriorated graft. The authors previously clarified that administration of transforming growth factor (TGF) -beta1 significantly inhibited the deterioration of the structural properties of the tendon graft in a canine ACL reconstruction model.[3] However, it has been well known that the intra-articular application of TGF-beta1 induces osteoarthritic changes in the knee joint.[4] Therefore, the intra-articular administration of TGF-beta1 cannot be applied to human ACL reconstruction.