Biomechanical comparison of pure magnesium interference screw and polylactic acid polymer interference screw in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction—A cadaveric experimental study

Abstract

Polylactic acid polymer interference screws are commonly used in anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstructions, especially in proximal tibia fixation. However, several concerns have been raised, including the acid products during its degradation in vivo. In recent years, biodegradable magnesium (Mg)-based implants have become attractive because of their favourable mechanical properties, which are more similar to those of natural bone when compared with other degradable materials, such as polymers, apart from their alkaline nature during degradation. We developed a pure Mg interference screw for ACL reconstruction. In the present study, 24 fresh cadaver knees were used to compare the mechanical properties of pure Mg interference screws and polylactic acid polymer interference screws for ACL reconstruction via their application on the proximal tibia tested using specific robotics. Results showed that the pure Mg interference screw group showed similar mechanical stability to the polylactic acid polymer interference screw group, implying comparable postoperative fixation effects. As there are no commercially available Mg-based interference screws for ACL reconstruction clinically and the in vivo degradation of pure Mg promotes bone formation, our cadaveric study supports its clinical tests for ACL reconstruction.