The need for tissue engineering of the ligament and tendon is apparent from the unsatisfactory outcomes of current treatment modalities for such ruptured tissues. Current treatment methods include the use of autografts, allografts, xenografts and synthetic graft replacements, with the use of autografts being the common approach. Although refinements and progress were made in these techniques, many problems persist to limit their use. There are limiting factors that include donor site morbidity, immunological foreign body response, disease transmission, donor shortages, donor-recipient compatibility, infections and implant fatigue failure. The strategy for treatment thus lies in the minimization of these problems while developing a closer or similar substitute to that of the native ligament or tendon. Such is the rationale for the interest of the field towards providing a tissue engineering solution.
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