Effect of hylan G-F 20 in Achilles' tendonitis: an experimental study in rats.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the local effects of hylan G-F 20 on locally administered corticosteroid-induced experimental Achilles' tendonitis.


METHODS
Before-after trial.


METHODS
Institutional practice.


METHODS
Convenience sample of 18 male Wistar white rats (weight range, 322-375 g).


METHODS
After performing Achilles' degeneration with local corticosteroid injections, the rats were divided into 4 groups. The right Achilles' tendon of the rats served as the hylan injection group and the left tendon as the control group, which was injected with saline at 5-day intervals. The tendons and paratenons were excised at the end of 60 or 75 days and evaluated histopathologically and statistically.


METHODS
Histopathologic changes, including staining affinity, nuclear appearance, fibrillar appearance for tendon and thickness, occurrence of fibrosis and edema, capillary changes, and inflammation for paratenon, were assessed according to a semiquantitative scoring system. The Mann-Whitney U test was used for statistical analysis, with a P value of.05 or less considered statistically significant.


RESULTS
Semiquantitative scoring of histopathologic changes showed that histologic appearances differed between the hylan and saline groups and between 2 hylan groups. Hylan-injected tendons and paratenons demonstrated significantly lower scores, especially after 75 days.


CONCLUSIONS
Hylan G-F 20 has a promising curative effect on the tendon and paratenon and can be used in Achilles' tendonitis. This finding should be supported by biomechanical and biochemical studies.
Tatari
Hasan
H
Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Dokuz Eylül University, School of Medicine, Izmir, Turkey. hasan.tatari@deu.edu.tr
Skiak
Eyad
E
Destan
Hakan
H
Ulukuş
Cağnur
C
Ozer
Erdener
E
Satoğlu
Safa
S
D000125:Achilles Tendon / Q000473:pathology; D000818:Animals; D001623:Betamethasone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D004487:Edema / Q000209:etiology; D005355:Fibrosis; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007267:Injections; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D052256:Tendinopathy / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology
D004338:Drug Combinations; C032812:betamethasone dipropionate, betamethasone sodium phosphate drug combination; C049816:hylan; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid; D001623:Betamethasone