Artificial ligament

Artificial ligaments are devices used to replace damaged ligaments. Today, the most common use of artificial ligaments is in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.[1] Although autotransplantation remains the most common method of ligament reconstruction, numerous materials and structures were developed to optimize the artificial ligament since its creation in the World War I era.[2] Many modern artificial ligaments are made of synthetic polymers, such as polyethylene terephthalate.[3] Various coatings have been added to improve the biocompatibility of the synthetic polymers.[3] Early artificial ligaments developed in the 1980s were ineffective due to material deterioration.[4] Currently, the Ligament Advanced Reinforcement System (LARS) artificial ligament has been utilized extensively in clinical applications.[5] Tissue engineering is a growing area of research which aims to regenerate and restore ligament function.[2]

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