Xenograft tendons have been used in few human studies, with variable results. With
the advent of novel tissue processing techniques, which may mitigate against an
immune
-
mediated rejection response without adversely affecting mech
anical
properties, there may
now
be a clinical role for xenograft tendons, particularly in knee
ligament reconstruction. We hypothesize that
‘BioCleanse®
’
processed bovine
extensor digitorum m
edialis
(EDM) tendons exhibit favorable time
-
zero pre
-
implantati
on biomechanical characteristics when compared to both unprocessed
bovine EDM tendons and BioCleanse® processed human cadaveric allograft tibialis
anterior tendons.
In this
in vitro
case controlled laboratory study, three groups of tendons underwent a
5
-
stage static loading test protocol: 15 BioCleanse® bovine (BCB), 15 fresh frozen
unprocessed bovine (FFB), and 12 BioCleanse® human allograft (BCA) tendons.
Cross
-
sectional area of th
e grafts was measured using an alginate
molding
technique,
and tendons were mounted within an Instron® 5565 Materials Testing System using
cryogenic clamps.
BCB tendons displayed a higher ultimate tensile
stress (p<0.05)
, with equivalent
ultimate failure
load, creep, and modulus of elasticity when compared to the FFB
tendons (p
>
0.05). BCB tendons had an equivalent cross
-
sectional area to the BCA
tendons
(p>0.05)
whilst exhibiting a greater failure load, ultimate tensile stre
ss
, less
creep and a higher modu
lus of elasticity (p<0.05).
The BioCleanse® process d
id
not adversely affect the time
-
zero biomechanical roperties of bovine xenograft EDM tendons. BioCleanse® processed bovine
xenograft EDM tendons exhibit
ed
superior biomechanical characteristics when
3
co
mpared with BioCleanse® processed allograft tibialis anterior tendons.
These
findings support further investigation of xenograft tendons in orthopaedic soft tissue
reconstructive surgery.