Histological and Immunohistochemical Characterization of the Tibial ACL Remnant: Implications for Ligament Healing

TL;DR

This study explores how the tibial part of the ACL ligament heals, showing that preserving it during surgery could improve recovery due to active biological processes.

Contribution

The study identifies a biologically active repair niche in the tibial ACL remnant with coordinated vascular, neural, and stromal responses.

Findings

ACL remnants show significantly higher microvascular density and synovial angiogenesis compared to controls.

Injured ACLs have increased stellate stromal cells and CD34-positive fibrocytes, indicating active remodeling.

Neural networks in control ligaments are richer in small-caliber fibers, which are vulnerable during ACL rupture.

Abstract

Background and Objectives: The pathways mediating the beneficial effect of tibial stump preservation for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction remain insufficiently clarified. This study investigated key vascular, neural, and stromal aspects of cellular remodeling processes occurring across lesion stages in tibial remnant pre-reconstruction. Materials and Methods: Biopsies were obtained from 25 patients undergoing arthroscopic ACL reconstruction (paired free-end and tibial insertion sampling) and 10 from quasi-normal, macroscopically intact ligaments (controls). We evaluated intergroup differences in microvascular density using a t-test. Group comparisons for angiogenesis (CD34), neural components (S100, neurofilament-associated proteins—NFAPs), and stromal activation (vimentin and actin) were conducted using Chi-square or Fisher’s exact tests. Results: ACL remnants revealed a significantly higher microvascular density (37 ± 2.3 vs. 18 ± 3.2 vessels/mm2, p < 0.001), in addition to a markedly increased prevalence of synovial angiogenesis (90% vs. 20%, p < 0.001), stellate stromal cells (94% vs. 10%, p < 0.001), and CD34-positive fibrocytes (92% vs. 10%, p < 0.001) compared to control tissues. Elevated intraligamentous neovascularization (with borderline significance) was also found in these tissues (38% vs. 0%, p = 0.045). Both injured and control ACLs showed widespread S100-positive neural fibers, suggesting maintained Schwann cell integrity despite ligament disruption. In contrast, control ligaments showed a substantially richer NFAP+ neural network, particularly in small-caliber fibers and free nerve endings, pointing to preferential vulnerability of small-caliber neural elements during ACL rupture. Vimentin expression changes—from homogeneous fibrocytic staining to diffuse reticular overexpression in fibrotic lesions—were accompanied by the emergence of stellate myofibroblast-like cells, supporting advanced stromal remodeling. Absent in controls, actin immunoreactivity increased with lesion severity, indicating a progressive myofibroblastic response driven by perivascular cells during ligament remodeling. Conclusions: The tibial ACL remnant is a biologically active, compartmentalized repair niche driven by coordinated vascular, neural, and stromal responses, with reparative activity concentrated at the synovial–epiligament interface. These findings support the biological rationale for preserving tibial remnant for ACL reconstruction.

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