Citations

The success of vascularized bone grafts from the medial femoral condyle in various clinical applications has sparked renewed interest in the microvascular anatomy of this region. This study describes the arterial supply of the distal medial femoral condyle and its implications in harvesting vascularized bone grafts. The location, branching pattern, internal diameter, and distribution of perforators of the descending genicular artery and superior medial genicular artery in 19 fresh cadaveric lower limbs were recorded. The descending genicular artery was present in 89% and the superior medial genicular artery was present in 100% of specimens with average distances proximal to the articular surface of 13.7 cm and 5.2 cm, respectively. The average number of perforating vessels was greatest in the posterior distal quadrant of the condyle. The blood supply of the medial femoral condyle is plentiful and consistent making it a useful source for free vascularized bone grafts.

Purpose We tested the hypothesis that the preimplantation mechanical properties of BioCleanse‐treated bone–patellar tendon–bone (BPTB) allografts are not significantly different from those of untreated specimens. Methods For this controlled laboratory study, specimens were harvested as central third or hemi‐BPTB units from both knees of 17 cadaveric tissue donors (11 men and 6 women) aged 19 to 88 years. Donor‐matched specimens (20 per group) were randomly assigned to either BioCleanse‐treated or untreated control groups. Specimens were subjected to 25 minutes of pretensioning at 89 N and then cyclically loaded under longitudinal tension between 50 N and 250 N for 1,000 cycles at 1 Hz, followed by ramp to failure at 50 mm/min. Results No statistically significant difference was found between untreated and BioCleanse‐treated specimens in stiffness (235.3 ± 37.6 N/mm v 222.3 ± 53.4 N/mm, P = .37), cyclic creep (0.38 ± 0.42 mm v 0.40 ± 0.26 mm, P = .81), maximum force (1,685.7 ± 471.6 N v 1,807.0 ± 657.8 N, P = .47), or ultimate stress (29.0 ± 9.8 MPa v 29.0 ± 12.8 MPa, P = .98). Conclusions The preimplantation mechanical properties of BPTB allografts treated with BioCleanse are not significantly different from those of untreated controls. Clinical Relevance This laboratory study compares the biomechanical properties of chemically treated allografts, which are currently being used in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction, with those of nontreated fresh‐frozen allografts.