Dose-related effects of extracorporeal shock waves on rabbit quadriceps tendon integrity.
BACKGROUND
Recently, morphological signs of damage were reported in rabbit Achilles tendon following extracorporeal shock wave application (ESWA) with an energy flux density (EFD) of 0.6 mJ/mm(2). However, it is unknown whether or not the same can be found after ESWA to other tendons such as the quadriceps tendon.


METHODS
We investigated the effects of ESWA in vivo on rabbit quadriceps tendon. Animals received 1,500 SW pulses each of different EFD ranging between 0.0 and 1.2 mJ/mm(2) on either the left or right quadriceps tendon. ESWA effects were investigated by histopathological examination.


RESULTS
ESWA with EFD of 0.5 mJ/mm(2) upwards resulted in edema within the paratenon. ESWA with EFD of 1.2 mJ/mm(2) resulted in various morphological signs of damage within the tendon and paratenon.


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that ESWA to the quadriceps tendon in clinical experimental use should be restricted to EFD less than 0.5 mJ/mm(2).
Maier
Markus
M
Institute for Surgical Research, Ludwig-Maximilians University, Munich, Germany. markus.maier@ort.med.uni-muenchen.de
Tischer
Thomas
T
Milz
Stefan
S
Weiler
Christoph
C
Nerlich
Andreas
A
Pellengahr
Christoph
C
Schmitz
Christoph
C
Refior
Hans Jürgen
HJ
D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D019220:High-Energy Shock Waves; D023421:Models, Animal; D011817:Rabbits; D011897:Random Allocation; D013710:Tendons / Q000473:pathology / Q000528:radiation effects*