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Thermal effects after anterior cruciate ligament shrinkage using radiofrequency technology: a porcine cadaver study

  • Knee
  • Published:
Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy Aims and scope

Abstract

The effects of thermal energy on an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) are unknown. This study was undertaken to know the immediate and direct effects of thermocoagulation on normal ACL. Thermocoagulation was generated by monopolar radiofrequency (RF) at 67°C and 40 W of energy and applied with use of a commercial jig in a porcine cadaveric model, and biomechanical and histological changes were evaluated immediately. Thermocoagulation caused significant shrinkage of ACL without immediate effects on ligament biomechanical properties, including stiffness and maximal failure force. However, histological analysis demonstrated a decrease in number of dense elongated cells and blood vessels within the epiligamentous tissue, loss of areolar spaces, decrement in the periodicity of collagen waveform, and shortening and pyknotic nuclear changes of cells within the fascicular region. RF-generated thermocoagulation resulted in ACL shortening with significant changes on histological findings but not on initial biomechanical properties.

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Acknowledgements

This work is funded by grants from Veterans General Hospital-Taipei (VTY90-P1-12).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Veterans General Hospital-Taipei, 201, Sec. 2, Shih-Pai Road, Taipei, 11217, Taiwan

    Hsiao-Li Ma, Wei-Jau Jiae, Shih-Tien Wang, Tain-Hsiung Chen & Shih-Chieh Hung

  2. Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan

    Hsiao-Li Ma, Wei-Jau Jiae, Shih-Tien Wang, Tain-Hsiung Chen & Shih-Chieh Hung

  3. Institute of Biomedical Engineering, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan

    Chang-Hung Huang & Cheng-Kung Cheng

  4. Medical Research and Education, Veterans General Hospital-Taipei, Taipei, Taiwan

    Shih-Chieh Hung

Authors
  1. Hsiao-Li Ma
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  2. Wei-Jau Jiae
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  3. Chang-Hung Huang
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  4. Shih-Tien Wang
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  5. Tain-Hsiung Chen
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Shih-Chieh Hung.

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Wei-Jau Jiae and Chang-Hung Huang contributed equally to this article

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Ma, HL., Jiae, WJ., Huang, CH. et al. Thermal effects after anterior cruciate ligament shrinkage using radiofrequency technology: a porcine cadaver study. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 13, 619–624 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-004-0614-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-004-0614-5

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