Prospective Clinical Study of Biodegradable Poly-L-Lactide Implant as an Augmentation Device with Fascia Lata in Cranial Cruciate Ligament Repair in the Dog: Early Results

A biodegradable poly-L-lactide (PLLA) augmentation device was used to reinforce a fascia lata graft in cranial cruciate ligament repair in 12 dogs and compared clinically and radio-graphically with a fascia lata replacement technique in 15 dogs. Clinically, at 12 weeks the stability of the stifle joints was significantly better (p <0.05) using the PLLA implant with the fascia lata. At 24 weeks significant differences were not found in the clinical nor radiographic outcome between the two groups.