Ligament Tissue Engineering

Abstract

Ligaments are commonly injured in the knee joint, and have a poor capacity for healing due to their relative avascularity. Ligament reconstruction is well established for injuries such as anterior cruciate ligament rupture, however the use of autografts and allografts for ligament reconstruction are associated with complications, and outcomes are variable. Ligament tissue engineering using stem cells, growth factors and scaffolds is a novel technique that has the potential to provide an unlimited source of tissue. In this chapter we discuss the role of tissue engineering in dealing with ligament injuries and provide an overview of in vitro and in vivo studies.