title: Biocompatibility of a polymer patch for rotator cuff repair.
abstract: Both mechanical and biological factors influence the high re-tear rate after rotator cuff repair. Mechanical factors have largely been addressed by the introduction of better implants and modification of suture configuration, but further improvements are needed to address the often poor tissue quality of the degenerated rotator cuff tendons. Current biological solutions provide only short-term reinforcement and have been associated with pseudo-infectious reactions. This pre-clinical animal study investigates the biological response to a novel polycarbonate polyurethane patch used for tissue augmentation in a rat rotator cuff repair model. Bilateral defects were created in the supraspinatus tendons of 12 Sprague Dawley rats. One side was repaired with a patch as a tissue augmentation device. The contralateral side acted as internal control without patch augmentation. After 6 weeks the tissues were harvested and underwent histologic and histomorphometric analyses. Histological evaluation demonstrated no inflammatory reaction; histomorphometry revealed tissue ingrowth of 79.9%. In conclusion, the polycarbonate polyurethane patch for tissue extension or augmentation in rotator cuff repair has demonstrated no inflammatory response and excellent tissue integration in a rat rotator cuff repair model.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics and Anatomy and Cell Biology, Rush University Medical Center, Rush Medical College, Chicago, IL 60612, USA. bcole@rushortho.com
authors.forename: Brian J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Cole
authors.forename: Andreas H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Gomoll
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yanke
authors.forename: Tamara
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pylawka
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.forename: John D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Macgillivray
authors.forename: James M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Williams
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D003094:Collagen / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003238:Connective Tissue / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008297:Male; D008422:Materials Testing; D023421:Models, Animal; D011076:Polycarboxylate Cement; D011140:Polyurethanes; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D017006:Rotator Cuff / Q000601:surgery* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D000070636:Rotator Cuff Injuries
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D011076:Polycarboxylate Cement; D011140:Polyurethanes; C005506:polycarbonate; D003094:Collagen