Bioresorbable plastic is key to new ACL repair technique

The purpose of the European clinical trial is to evaluate the safety of the L-C Ligament in 15 patients with acute ACL injuries. A larger trial in the United States and Europe is planned for 2015.

L-C Ligament technology, invented initially by Dr. Cato T. Laurencin, uses polymeric fiber-based degradable material. The bioresorbable plastic poly(L) lactide acid (PLLA) is formed into a scaffold designed to stabilize the knee after ACL reconstruction surgery. It's hoped by the company that the L-C Ligament encourages the regeneration of the patient's own ligament tissue.

The biggest advantage of the approach is that no harvesting of the patient's tendon is required, eliminating the risks associated with the harvest site.

Laurencin and his partners are commercializing the technology through a company called Soft Tissue Regeneration, Inc. of New Haven, CT.

Referring to the surgery in Holland, Joseph Reilly, CEO and co founder of Soft Tissue Regeneration, said: "This is a major milestone for people who suffer through ACL injuries requiring surgery. It is the first step in a process we believe will help improve patient outcomes on so many levels. There is still work to be done, but we are extremely happy to have completed the first surgery with positive results."

"Having a scaffold that can stabilize the knee and foster the regeneration of the ligament tissues would constitute a major advancement in the treatment of ACL injuries," said Dr. Arciero, who is also president elect of the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine (AOSSM). "This procedure has the potential to facilitate faster, improved healing with very little surgical morbidity for patients."