Biologic replacement for fibrin clot

Abstract

The invention provides composition and methods for repairing a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A method for treating an intra-articular injury in a subject, comprising
 contacting a ruptured intra-articular tissue of the subject with a scaffold that is a compressible three-dimensional matrix, adapted to facilitate cell in-growth, wherein the matrix comprises an uncrosslinked porous natural polymer matrix material.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the porous natural polymer matrix material is a collagen glycosaminoglycan copolymer. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the scaffold further comprises plasma. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the scaffold is in the shape of a solid cylindrical member, a cylindrical member having hollow cavities, a tube, or a flat sheet rolled into a tube. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the scaffold further comprises one or more of growth factors, antibiotics, glycosaminoglycans, extracellular matrix protein, platelets, cytokines, neutralizing agents, crosslinking agents, stem cells, or cell media supplements. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising securing the scaffold to a tissue of the subject using a mechanical device that is a suture or a clip to aid in the repair. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the intra-articular tissue defect is a partial or complete tear of a ligament exposed to synovial fluid. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the ligament is an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the intra-articular tissue defect is of meniscus, cartilage, labrum, tendon, muscle, or bone. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising contacting the scaffold with a tissue adhesive composition. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the method is performed by an arthroscopic procedure. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising mechanically joining ends of the ruptured tissue. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the ends of the ruptured tissue are joined with sutures.