| Summary: | Category: Sports Introduction/Purpose: Ruptures of the anterior tibial tendon are rare injuries usually occurring in patients over the age of 40. Delayed diagnosis is common and reconstruction often involves the use of autograft or allografts. This paper reports on the use of a polycaprolactone-based polyurethane urea (PUUR) hyperelastic polymer (Artelon) in the repair or reconstruction of anterior tibial tendon ruptures. Methods: Artelon® is a knitted textile matrix that is manufactured from fibers of polycaprolactone-based polyurethane urea (PUUR), a hyperelastic and creep-resistant polymer. Previous studies have demonstrated that Artelon integrates without immune reaction, has mechanical properties that resemble healing tendons and ligaments, and degrades benignly through hydrolysis over a 5-6 year span. This is a retrospective examination of the first 6 cases of anterior tibial tendon reconstruction using the Artelon PUUR graft. Patient outcomes are measured with AOFAS scores. In addition, range of motion and strength of the injured side is compared to the native, uninjured side. Results: There were no complications using the Artelon graft to augment anterior tibial tendon reconstruction and repair. Patient outcomes at 6 months were significantly improved compared to preoperative. Range of motion and strength were similar to the contralateral, uninjured side. Conclusion: Artelon is a safe, effective soft tissue augmentation device that can be used in the setting of anterior tibial tendon repaair or reconstruction.
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