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Effects of synovial interposition on healing in a canine tendon explant culture model
Jun Ikeda1, Chunfeng Zhao, Steven L Moran
1Orthopedic Biomechanics Laboratory, Division of Orthopedic Research, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
Purpose:
To investigate whether synovium interposition between repaired tendon ends can integrate into the tendon repair and improve tendon healing strength in a canine tendon explant culture model.
Methods:
We used 80 flexor digitorum profundus tendons from 10 mixed-breed dogs for this study. The flexor digitorum profundus tendons were assigned to 2 groups: repaired tendons with synovium implanted between the cut tendon ends and repaired tendons without any implantation between the tendon ends. The repaired tendons were cultured for either 2 or 4 weeks and then assessed mechanically for rupture strength and histology.
Results:
The strength of the repaired tendons with the synovium interposition was significantly higher (p < .001) than the repaired tendons without interposition at both 2 and 4 weeks. The strength of the repaired tendons at 4 weeks was significantly higher than that at 2 weeks in both groups.
Conclusions:
Interpositional synovial grafts have the potential to accelerate tendon healing when they are implanted at the repair site. The exact mechanism of this effect remains to be elucidated.
