Ligament graft apparatus and method

摘要

A knee reconstruction apparatus and method provides for controlling and adjusting the point of fixation of a ligament graft, for example a replacement for the anterior cruciate ligament, which permits precisely and repeatably adjusting the length of the ligament graft or graft components with the joint under a prescribed load prior to fixation. A fixture is fixed on the tibia and includes an adjustable clamp that holds a ligament graft anchored or held in the femur. The clamp can be moved for adjusting the length of the ligament graft, or individual segments of a composite ligament graft while the joint is under a prescribed load. The load carried by one or more individual graft components also can be measured prior to fixation to ensure that each of the segments of a composite ligament graft will carry the desired or selected load for a joint under a prescribed load.