The fascia lata was used for the intracapsular reconstruction of experimentally ruptured cranial cruciate ligament in dogs. In gross appearence, 90 days after surgery, the autografts were thick in intracapsular portion, presented bigger diameter than the normal ligament, and showed tendon aspect. Microscopicaly, collagen fibers were involved by slack conjunctive fibers, they were more intense in the intracapsular portion, and, later in time, presented an arragement of longitudinally oriented collagen fiber bundles. The elastic fibers were present in small amount, sparse and around the collagen fibers and prevailed in graft extremities.
cranial cruciate ligament; fascia lata; autografts
