Seventeen cases involving 18 fingers of acute rupture of flexor tendon within the Zone Ⅱ were repaired by microsurgical technique for reconstructing the digital sheath with biological membrane since 1989. The excellent/good rate based on Eaton grading was 89%. The main procedure of the operation. the early postoperative rehabilitation and active excercises were described.
Objective To study the healing ability of the central area tissue of flexor tendons after injury. Methods Tendons of flexor digitorum profundus of the long toes from 8 white Leghorn hens were harvested in zone II. Tissues were cut in 4 mm segments and divided into the experimental group(the central area tissue of flexor tendons) and the control group(the tendon segments without epitenon). There were 12 tendon segments cultured in each group. Specimens were obtained and examined under light microscope on the 9th, 18th and 27th days after culture, respectively. Another 4 tendons were used as normal control, and they were directly examined under light microscope. Results The number of tenocytes was significantly less in the control group than in the experimental group and the uncultured state (P＜0.01); the number of tenocytes was significantly higher in the experimental group than in the uncultured state (P＜0.01). The number of tenocytes of the experimental group were higher on the 9th day than on the 18th and 27th days after culture(P＜0.01). Conclusion The central area tissue of flexor tendons has favorable healing ability after injury.
OBJECTIVE: The review the effect of cytokines on repair of tendon injury and the relevant mechanism. METHODS: By broadly consulting recent issues about cytokines involved in tendon repair, a variety of cytokines with effects in repairing injured tendon was made and the possible mechanisms were summarized, with unsolved problems discussed. RESULTS: There were many cytokines participated in the procedure of tendon repair, among which insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1), transforming growth-beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) played significant roles. Most of the relevant researches were limited in experimental study in vitro. CONCLUSION: Cytokines possibly can accelerate tendon repair and show great potentials in future clinical application.
Objective To study the adhesion-preventing effect of basic fibroblast growth factor(bFGF) combined slow-releasing degradable membrane.Methods The bFGF combined slow-releasing degradable membrane was made from bFGF and the reagent which could promote fibrinogen synthesize. Sixty-six SD rats were divided into groups A,B,C randomly (22 rats each group). In group A, sutured achilles tendon were encapsulated with bFGF combined slow-releasing degradable membrane;in group B, sutured achilles tendon were encapsulated with degradable membrane without any drug; in group C, achilles tendon were only sutured. Ninety days later, light-microscope, electronmicroscopoe, figureanalysing, hydroxyproline content, extent of peritendon adhesion and biomechanic test were evaluated.Results ①The amount of fibroblast and fibrinogen inside the sutured tendon in group A was larger than that inits peripheral connective tissue and in groups B and C (P＜0.05). Thecontent of hydroxyproline and the ultimate tensile strength in group A was higher than those in groups B and C(P＜0.01).② The peripheral tissue in group A almostremains the formal loose connective tissue, but it became dense connective tissue in groups B and C and grew into the tendon. Moreover, the extent of adhesion in group A was lesser than that in groups B, C according to the mensuration of peritendon adhesion.Conclusion The bFGF combined slow-releasing degradable membrane can make the intrinsic healing of tendon faster than peripheral
Objective To investigate the management of the soft tissue defect after the Achilles tendon repair. Methods From April 1996 to April 2006, 24 patients(17 males, 7 females; aged 16-59 years), who suffered from postoperative Achilles tendon exposure caused by local soft-tissue necrosis after the Achilles tendon repair, were treated and evaluated. Of the 24patients, 8 had an original open injury (machinecrush injury in 2 patients, heavy-object press injury in 3, motorcycle wheel crush injury in 3) and 16 patients had a closed injury (sports injury). In their treatment, the transferof the sural neurovascular flap was performed on 8 patients and the transfer ofthe saphenous neurovascular flap was performed on 3 patients. The secondary Achilles tendon repair was performed on 13 patients before the neurovascular flap transfer was performed. The time between the injury and the operation was 9-76 days, and the time between the Achilles tendon expousure and the operation was 3-65 days. Results All the flaps survived and the Achilles tendon exposure was well covered by the flaps of good texture. Eighteen patients followed up for 6 months to 24 months had no flap complication, and the two point discrimination of the flaps was 12-20 mm. The AOFASAnkleHindfoot Scale assessment revealed that 8 patients had an excellent result, 6 had a good result, 3 had a fair result, and just 1 had a poor result, with theexcellent and good results accounting for 77.8%. Sixteen patients (89%) were able toperform a tip-toe stance on their operative sides, and only 3 of them complained a loss of plantarflexion strength. However, 2 patients still could not perform the tip-toe stance. Conclusion The Achilles tendon repair, ifnot well performed, can result in the local soft-tissue necrosis and the subsequent Achilles tendon exposure. If those complications occur, the neurovascular flap transfer should be performed as soon as possible; if necessary, the secondary Achilles tendon repair should be performed, too.
ObjectiveTo review the research progress of medicine biomaterials in prevention and treatment of adhesion after tendon injury, and to provide reference for clinical treatment.MethodsThe literature on the application of medical biomaterials in the prevention and treatment of tendon adhesions in recent years was reviewed, and the biological process, treatment methods, and current status of tendon adhesions were summarized.ResultsTendon adhesion as part of the healing process of the tendon is the biological response of the tendon to the injury and is also a common complication of joint dysfunction. Application of medical biomaterials can achieve better biological function of postoperative tendon by reducing the adhesion of peritendon tissues as far as possible without adversely affecting the tendon healing process.ConclusionThe use of medical biomaterials is conducive to reduce the adhesion of tendon after operation, and the appropriate anti-adhesion material should be selected according to the patients’ condition and surgical needs.
Since 1988, with the aid of the microsurgical technique, circle invagination suture method was adopted to carry out primary repair of injury of the flexor tendon of hand in 30 cases, 54 fingers. The rehabilitative exercises were carried out early after operation. The patients were followed up postoperatively more than 6 months. According to the grading method of TAM for evaluation of the results, the excellentfair rate was 83.3%. This suture method and its advantages were introduced. The importance of atraumatic technique in operation and early ehabilitative excercises in order to prevent tendon adhesion were emphasized .
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the management of sheath after repair of double tendons in clean-cut injury or severe injury in zone II d. METHODS: Forty-eight white leghorn chickens were divided into 4 groups. Both FDS and FDP tendons in zone II d of long toes were repaired with modified Kessler suture after tendon transection in group A (clean-cut tendon injury, sheath closure), group B (clean-cut tendon injury, sheath excision), group C (severe tendon injury, sheath closure) and group D (severe tendon injury, sheath excision), respectively. Biomechanical studies of gliding excursion and work of flexion were carried out 6 weeks and 12 weeks after tendon repair. The extent of adhesion was examined. RESULTS: After 6 and 12 weeks of repair, there were no significant differences in tendon excursion and work of flexion of the toes between groups A and B. Excursions of FDP tendons in group D was significantly larger than that in group C (P lt; 0.05). Work of flexion and extent of adhesion in group D was significantly less than that in group C (P lt; 0.05). CONCLUSION: The above results indicate that sheath can be closed after repair of both FDS and FDP tendons in clean-cut injury and that sheath should be excised in severe injury in zone II d.