Objective To explore a rapid histological preparation method to observe morphology and composition distribution of tendon collagen fascicle and endotendinum. Methods Taking porcine superflexor tendon of foot as an example, tendons were sliced into sections with 6 μm by frozen section technology, after which general observation of the section integrity was carried out. After fixed with 10% neutral buffered formalin and performed with HE staining, the tissue integrity and ice crystal formation were observed under microscope. Sections were then divided into 5 groups by different methods of dyeing. Group A: Priodic acid-Shiff (PAS) staining; group B: Masson staining; group C: reticular fibers staining; group D: immunohistochemical and immunofluorescent staining of type Ⅲ collagen; group E: the sections were baked at 65℃ for 10 minutes and stained with Masson. The composition distribution of tendon collagen fascicle and endotendinum in different groups were observed. Results From general observation, the frozen section of tendon tissue was complete and continuous. Although the tissue integrity in the tendon sections could be seen and no ice crystal was formed, the composition distribution could not be identified by HE staining. The entire tendons in groups A, B, and C were dyed, and the composition distribution of collagen fascicle and endotendinum could not be identified. The endotendinum in group D was stained weakly positive for type Ⅲ collagen alone, and the two components were differentiated dyed but the contrast was not obvious. In group E, the collagen fascicle and endotendinium were differentiated dyed and the two components in tendon tissue were clearly visible. Conclusion The morphology and the composition distribution of tendon collagen fascicle and endotendinum can be characterized rapidly and accurately, using a combination of baking at 65℃ for 10 minutes and Masson staining after porcine superflexor tendons were sliced by frozen section technology.
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: To investigate a cryophylactic agent (CPA) to protect tissue engineered tendon (TET) in deep low temperature. METHODS: Sixty-four BALB/C inbred nude mice were chosen, which included 4 as blank control group, left sides of 60 as experimental group and their right sides as control group. Transformed human embryonic tendon cells of the 54th passage and artificial materials of carbon fiber (CF) and polyglycolic acid (PGA) were co-cultured in vitro to construct TET. TET was frozen in liquid nitrogen with four kinds of CPA (groups A, B, C, and D) for 2 months. They were thawed quickly and transplanted into hind limbs of nude mice to repair the defects of Achilles tendon, which was 5 mm in length and 65.7% of total Achilles tendon. In control group, no cryopreservation treatment was taken. The morphological, histological, ultrastructure, and immunohistochemistry examinations were made and short tandem repeat loci were detected 2, 4, 6, 8, and 12 weeks later. RESULTS: In the experimental group, the morphological properties of tendon cells resumed gradually and the capability of synthesizing collagen enhanced by degrees. Tendon cells survived and could secret type I collagen and there was less difference between experimental and control groups 12 weeks after transplantation. In group A, vacuole in mitochondrion of tendon cell decreased, tendon cell arranged in order and abundant collagen fibers were found and linked. CONCLUSION: The cryopreservation agent in group A can protect TET in deep low temperature.
In order to study the influence of severity of tendon injury on the morphology of collagen fibers during healing process of extensor tendons, 40 female Wistal rats were used for investigation. The rats were divided into 2 groups. Transection of the tendon of extensor digitorum longus was performed in one group, while partial section of the same tendon was performed in the other group. Morphometric analysis was undertaken on the 15th, 30th, 60th and 90th day after operation. The result was that there was no significant difference between the two groups both in distribution and diameter of collagen fibers on the 15th and 30th days (P gt; 0.05). However, there was significent difference between those on the 60th and 90th days (P lt; 0.05). It was concluded that the severity of the tendon injury could influence the morphology of collagen fibers during the late stage of tendon healing.
Objective To simulate anterosuperior instabil ity of the shoulder by a combination of massive irreparable rotator cuff tears and coracoacromial arch disruption in cadaveric specimens, use proximally based conjoined tendon transfer forcoracoacromial l igament (CAL) reconstruction to restrain against superior humeral subluxation, and investigate its feasibility and biomechanics property. Methods Nine donated male-adult and fresh-frozen cadaveric glenohumeral joints were applied to mimic a massive irreparable rotator cuff tear in each shoulder. The integrity of the rotator cuff tendons and morphology of the CAL were visually inspected in the course of specimen preparation. Cal ipers were used to measure the length of the CAL’s length of the medial and the lateral bands, the width of coracoid process and the acromion attachment, and the thickness in the middle, as well as the length, width and thickness of the conjoined tendon and the lateral half of the removed conjoined tendon. The glenohumeral joints were positioned in a combination of 30° extension, 0° abduction and 30° external rotation. The value of anterosuperior humeral head translation was measured after the appl ication of a 50 N axial compressive load to the humeral shaft under 4 sequential scenarios: intact CAL, subperiosteal CAL release, CAL anatomic reattachment, entire CAL excision after lateral half of the proximally based conjoined tendon transfer for CAL reconstruction. Results All specimens had an intact rotator cuff on gross inspection. CAL morphology revealed 1 Y-shaped, 4 quadrangular, and 4 broad l igaments. The length of the medial and lateral bands of the CAL was (28.91 ± 5.56) mm and (31.90 ± 4.21) mm, respectively; the width of coracoid process and acromion attachment of the CAL was (26.80 ± 10.24) mm and (15.86 ± 2.28) mm, respectively; and the thickness of middle part of the CAL was (1.61 ± 0.36) mm. The length, width, and thickness of the proximal part of the proximally based conjoined tendon was (84.91 ± 9.42), (19.74 ± 1.77), and (2.09 ± 0.45) mm, respectively. The length and width of the removed lateral half of the proximally conjoined tendon was (42.67 ± 3.10) mm and (9.89 ± 0.93) mm, respectively. The anterosuperior humeral head translation was intact CAL (8.13 ± 1.99) mm, subperiosteal CAL release (9.68 ± 1.97) mm, CAL anatomic reattachment (8.57 ± 1.97) mm, and the lateral half of the proximally conjoined tendon transfer for CAL reconstruction (8.59 ± 2.06) mm. A significant increase in anterosuperior migration was found after subperiosteal CAL release was compared with intact CAL (P lt; 0.05). The translation after CAL anatomic reattachment and lateral half of the proximally conjoined tendon transfer for CAL reconstruction increased over intact CAL, though no significance was found (P gt; 0.05); when they were compared with subperiosteal CAL release, the migration decreased significantly (P lt; 0.05). The translation of lateral half of the proximally conjoined tendon transfer for CAL reconstruction increased over CAL anatomic reattachment, but no significance was evident (P gt; 0.05). Conclusion The CAL should be preserved or reconstructed as far as possible during subacromial decompression, rotator cuff tears repair, and hemiarthroplasty for patients with massive rotator cuff deficiency. If preservation or the insertion reattachment after subperiosteal release from acromion of the CAL of the CAL is impossible, or CAL is entirely resected becauseof previous operation, the use of the lateral half of the proximally based conjoined tendon transfer for CAL reconstruction isfeasible.
OBJECTIVE: To study the feasibility of calcium polyphosphate fiber (CPPF) as the scaffold material of tendon tissue engineering. METHODS: CPPF (15 microns in diameter) were woven to form pigtail of 3 mm x 2 mm transverse area; and the tensile strength, porous ratio and permeability ratio were evaluated in vitro. Tendon cells (5 x 10(4)/ml) derived from phalangeal flexor tendon of SD rats were co-culture with CPPF scaffold or CPPF scaffold resurfaced with collagen type-I within 1 week. The co-cultured specimens were examined under optical and electric scanning microscope. RESULTS: The tensile strength of CPPF scaffolds was (122.80 +/- 17.34) N; permeability ratio was 61.56% +/- 14.57%; and porous ratio was 50.29% +/- 8.16%. CPPF had no obvious adhesive interaction with tendon cells, while CPPF of surface modified with collagen type-I showed good adhesive interaction with tendon cells. CONCLUSION: The above results show that CPPF has some good physical characteristics as scaffold of tendon tissue engineering, but its surface should be modified with organic substance or even bioactive factors.
In order to investigate the compatibility and growth between the tendon cell or fibroblast of rabbit and artificial materials, the combined-culture of the two cells with the carbon fiber, terylene and chitin was observed respectively. Results showed as following: in vitro, the compatibility of carbon fiber with these two cells was well, cell-adhesion ability was good as well. Few cells grew on terylene. Chitin inhibited the growth of either cells. No matter the tendon cell or the fibroblast, the amount of cells adhering on the carbon fiber was far more than that on terylene or chitin. When the three materials were interlaced together, the collagen fibers produced by the cells were arranged in direction parallel to the carbon fibers. As the time elapsed, the cells on the carbon fiber distributed evenly and enveloped the material in network-like fashion, this suggested that carbon fiber was a good material for producing living artificial tendon and ligament.
The reconstruction of the extension function of wrist and fingers in 35 patients with radial nerveinjury was reported, The indications of oporation and the main management during and after operationwere discussed.It was thought that the tendon transfer was an effective method to reconstructextension functions of wrist and fingers after the injury of radial nerves and could be served as asupplementary means after radial nerve repair.
Objective To investigate the effects of human acellularamnion membrane on SD rat tendon adhesion and to obtain the experimental data for clinical application in preventing postoperative tendon adhesion. Methods The tendons of 28 adult SD rats hindlimb were cut and sutured. The tendons of left hindlimb were encapsulated by human accellular amnion membraneas the experimental group and the ones of the other side were not encapsulatedas control group. The rats were killed 1, 2, 4, 6, 8 and 12 weeks after operation. The results were evaluated grossly and histologically. Results There were no differences in healing of injury tendon and inflammatory response between the two groups. The anatomical and histological results showed the experimental group had less adhesion than the control group(Plt;0.05). Conclusion Human acellular amnion membrane can prevent adhesion of tendonwithout affecting tendon healing and is an optimal biological material to prevent tendon adhesion.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the function of injured hand after repair of finger stump and reconstruction of digit tendon attachment in finger amputation. METHODS: From 1992 to 1998, 20 cases with amputation of the 2nd to the 5th fingers were investigated, of which reconstruction of digit tendon attachment in 10 cases (group A) and routine operation without reconstruction of digit tendon attachment in other 10 cases (group B). After 6 months of operation, the tension test, fatigue test the sense of stability in motion and the perimeter of forearm in injured hand and the corresponding healthy hand were compared. RESULTS: The differences were remarkable (P lt; 0.01) between group A and group B in the tension test of injured finger, the fatigue test, the sense of stability in motion and the perimeter of injured arm. CONCLUSION: The digit of injured finger should be reconstructed in finger amputation in order to furthest maintain the function of injured hand.