Augmentation of Tendon Healing With Butyric Acid-Impregnated Sutures Biomechanical Evaluation in a Rabbit Model

作者:Leek Bryan T; Tasto James P; Tibor Lisa M; Healey Robert M; Freemont Anthony; Linn Michael S; Chase Derek E; Amiel David*
来源:The American Journal of Sports Medicine, 2012, 40(8): 1762-1771.
DOI:10.1177/0363546512450691

摘要

Background: Butyric acid (BA) has been shown to be angiogenic and to enhance transcriptional activity in tissue. These properties of BA have the potential to augment biological healing of a repaired tendon.
Purpose: To evaluate this possibility both biomechanically and histologically in an animal tendon repair model.
Study Design: Controlled laboratory study.
Methods: A rabbit Achilles tendon healing model was used to evaluate the biomechanical strength and histological properties at 6 and 12 weeks after repair. Unilateral tendon defects were created in the middle bundle of the Achilles tendon of each rabbit, which were repaired equivalently with either Ultrabraid BA-impregnated sutures or control Ultrabraid sutures.
Results: After 6 weeks, BA-impregnated suture repairs had a significantly increased (P < .0001) Young's modulus and ultimate tensile strength relative to the control suture repairs. At 12 weeks, no statistical difference was observed between these measures. The histological data at 6 weeks demonstrated significantly increased (P < .005) vessel density within 0.25 mm of the repair suture in the BA-impregnated group. There was also an associated 42% increase in the local number of myofibroblasts in the BA samples relative to the controls at this time. By 12 weeks, these differences were not observed.
Conclusion: Tendons repaired with BA-impregnated sutures demonstrated improved biomechanical properties at 6 weeks relative to control sutures, suggesting a neoangiogenic mechanism of enhanced healing through an increased myofibroblast presence.

  • 出版日期2012-8