Rotator cuff regeneration using chitin fabric as an acellular matrix.
Twenty-one rabbits were used to investigate the feasibility of using nonwoven chitin fabric as an acellular matrix for rotator cuff regeneration. Infraspinatus tendons were cut bilaterally to create 10 x 10-mm defects. The defect in the right shoulder was covered with chitin fabric. The contralateral defect was left free as a control. The specimens were evaluated histologically and immunohistochemically at 2, 4, 8, and 12 weeks and biomechanically at 12 weeks after surgery. The acellular matrix increased cell numbers and improved collagen fiber alignment. The regenerated tissues were composed of type III collagen. The structural properties of the grafted shoulder were significantly greater than those of the control. This study revealed that using chitin fabric as an acellular matrix has advantages in enhancing both biologic and mechanical regeneration of rotator cuff tendons.
Funakoshi
Tadanao
T
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Hokkaido University School of Medicine, Kita 15 Nishi 7 Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-8638, Japan. t-funa@med.hokudai.ac.jp
Majima
Tokifumi
T
Suenaga
Naoki
N
Iwasaki
Norimasa
N
Yamane
Shintaro
S
Minami
Akio
A
D000818:Animals; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002686:Chitin; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D011817:Rabbits; D012038:Regeneration; D017006:Rotator Cuff / Q000502:physiology* / Q000601:surgery; D000070636:Rotator Cuff Injuries; D012421:Rupture; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods*
D002686:Chitin