Following successful clinical trials using kangaroo tendon as a replacement for human ligaments in surgery, a group of Aussie doctors and investors have established a fund to back similar Australian-made MedTech.
Early proof of concept testing has shown kangaroo tendon to be six times stronger than the human cruciate ligament.
The ACL is the most commonly injured ligament in the knee and injuries are increasing in frequency, especially in female athletes.
This injury typically occurs from high intensity sports and is unlikely to heal if left untreated, therefore surgery is the best option.
Since 2018, lab-testing and pre-clinical trials in animal models have been led by Bowral orthopedic surgeon Dr Nick Hartnell and his team based in the Southern Highlands in regional NSW.
“Kangaroo tendon has a similar composition to humans but is longer and has better mechanical properties which makes it an exciting natural product that could be used in a range of surgical procedures,” says Dr Hartnell.
Australia has one of the highest incidence rates of ACL reconstruction in the world.
Typically a hamstring from the patient is used to replace the ACL which causes additional recovery time.
Tissue from a donor is often rejected and has a higher failure rate.
Using a kangaroo graft in ACL surgery could considerably reduce rehabilitation time.