Early clinical outcomes of all-inside arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with autograft tendon augmentation using the LARS internal brace ligament

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to compare the early clinical outcomes of all-inside anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction using hamstring tendons augmented using the ligament augmentation and reconstruction system (LARS) versus hamstring tendons alone as a control.MethodsThis study inc...

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Main Authors: Huang Wenlong, Yang Maosheng, Wang Hanbin, Li Yi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-04-01
Series:Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbioe.2025.1556106/full
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author Huang Wenlong
Yang Maosheng
Wang Hanbin
Li Yi
author_facet Huang Wenlong
Yang Maosheng
Wang Hanbin
Li Yi
author_sort Huang Wenlong
collection DOAJ
description ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to compare the early clinical outcomes of all-inside anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction using hamstring tendons augmented using the ligament augmentation and reconstruction system (LARS) versus hamstring tendons alone as a control.MethodsThis study included 99 patients with ACL injuries who underwent all-inside arthroscopic ACL reconstruction using either the LARS internal brace ligament combined with hamstring tendon (augmentation group, n = 48) or hamstring tendon alone (hamstring group, n = 51). Postoperative follow-up was conducted using Lysholm, International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC), Tegner, KOS-ADLS, and ACL-RSI scores to evaluate functional recovery of patients at 1, 3, and 6 months. If necessary, MRI findings obtained at postoperative 3 months were also analyzed to evaluate graft integration and healing dynamics. Tensile strength of the augmented graft was measured through tensile testing. Moreover, to evaluate the postoperative healing status of the augmented tendon, an ACL reconstruction model was established using New Zealand white rabbits. At 4 and 8 weeks postimplantation, rabbit knees were harvested, decalcified, embedded in paraffin, and stained to evaluate new tissue formation. All statistical analyses were conducted using the GraphPad Prism and SPSS software, with appropriate statistical tests applied for comparison between groups.ResultsAt 1-month postoperative follow-up, the LARS augmentation group demonstrated significantly higher Lysholm, IKDC, and KOS-ADLS scores than the hamstring group, with P < 0.01 for all comparisons. At 3-month postoperative follow-up, the augmentation group exhibited significantly higher Tegner, Lysholm, IKDC, and KOS-ADLS scores than the hamstring group, with P < 0.05 for all measurements. In the tensile testing, the tendons + LARS and LARS groups showed significantly higher maximum loads and lower elongation than the tendon group with P < 0.001 for maximum load and P < 0.05 for elongation. Examination of the histological sections at 4 and 8 weeks showed that the LARS ligament exhibited excellent biocompatibility, with abundant collagen fibers and neovascularization identified between its fibers.ConclusionThe combination of LARS internal brace ligaments with autograft tendons in ACL reconstruction provides superior early postoperative outcomes, improving knee stability and patient satisfaction with no remarkable complications. The augmented graft exhibited reliable tensile strength and favorable tissue integration.
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spelling doaj-art-e55e896aba6a439b99c6d62aea2068412025-08-20T02:26:56ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology2296-41852025-04-011310.3389/fbioe.2025.15561061556106Early clinical outcomes of all-inside arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with autograft tendon augmentation using the LARS internal brace ligamentHuang WenlongYang MaoshengWang HanbinLi YiObjectiveThe aim of this study was to compare the early clinical outcomes of all-inside anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction using hamstring tendons augmented using the ligament augmentation and reconstruction system (LARS) versus hamstring tendons alone as a control.MethodsThis study included 99 patients with ACL injuries who underwent all-inside arthroscopic ACL reconstruction using either the LARS internal brace ligament combined with hamstring tendon (augmentation group, n = 48) or hamstring tendon alone (hamstring group, n = 51). Postoperative follow-up was conducted using Lysholm, International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC), Tegner, KOS-ADLS, and ACL-RSI scores to evaluate functional recovery of patients at 1, 3, and 6 months. If necessary, MRI findings obtained at postoperative 3 months were also analyzed to evaluate graft integration and healing dynamics. Tensile strength of the augmented graft was measured through tensile testing. Moreover, to evaluate the postoperative healing status of the augmented tendon, an ACL reconstruction model was established using New Zealand white rabbits. At 4 and 8 weeks postimplantation, rabbit knees were harvested, decalcified, embedded in paraffin, and stained to evaluate new tissue formation. All statistical analyses were conducted using the GraphPad Prism and SPSS software, with appropriate statistical tests applied for comparison between groups.ResultsAt 1-month postoperative follow-up, the LARS augmentation group demonstrated significantly higher Lysholm, IKDC, and KOS-ADLS scores than the hamstring group, with P < 0.01 for all comparisons. At 3-month postoperative follow-up, the augmentation group exhibited significantly higher Tegner, Lysholm, IKDC, and KOS-ADLS scores than the hamstring group, with P < 0.05 for all measurements. In the tensile testing, the tendons + LARS and LARS groups showed significantly higher maximum loads and lower elongation than the tendon group with P < 0.001 for maximum load and P < 0.05 for elongation. Examination of the histological sections at 4 and 8 weeks showed that the LARS ligament exhibited excellent biocompatibility, with abundant collagen fibers and neovascularization identified between its fibers.ConclusionThe combination of LARS internal brace ligaments with autograft tendons in ACL reconstruction provides superior early postoperative outcomes, improving knee stability and patient satisfaction with no remarkable complications. The augmented graft exhibited reliable tensile strength and favorable tissue integration.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbioe.2025.1556106/fullanterior cruciate ligamentall-inside reconstructioninternal braceligament augmentation and reconstruction systemautograft tendonmechanical strength
spellingShingle Huang Wenlong
Yang Maosheng
Wang Hanbin
Li Yi
Early clinical outcomes of all-inside arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with autograft tendon augmentation using the LARS internal brace ligament
Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology
anterior cruciate ligament
all-inside reconstruction
internal brace
ligament augmentation and reconstruction system
autograft tendon
mechanical strength
title Early clinical outcomes of all-inside arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with autograft tendon augmentation using the LARS internal brace ligament
title_full Early clinical outcomes of all-inside arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with autograft tendon augmentation using the LARS internal brace ligament
title_fullStr Early clinical outcomes of all-inside arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with autograft tendon augmentation using the LARS internal brace ligament
title_full_unstemmed Early clinical outcomes of all-inside arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with autograft tendon augmentation using the LARS internal brace ligament
title_short Early clinical outcomes of all-inside arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with autograft tendon augmentation using the LARS internal brace ligament
title_sort early clinical outcomes of all inside arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with autograft tendon augmentation using the lars internal brace ligament
topic anterior cruciate ligament
all-inside reconstruction
internal brace
ligament augmentation and reconstruction system
autograft tendon
mechanical strength
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbioe.2025.1556106/full
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AT wanghanbin earlyclinicaloutcomesofallinsidearthroscopicanteriorcruciateligamentreconstructionwithautografttendonaugmentationusingthelarsinternalbraceligament
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