Lubricin surface modification improves tendon gliding after tendon repair in a canine model in vitro.
This study investigated the effects of lubricin on the gliding of repaired flexor digitorum profundus (FDP) tendons in vitro. Canine FDP tendons were completely lacerated, repaired with a modified Pennington technique, and treated with one of the following solutions: saline, carbodiimide derivatized gelatin/hyaluronic acid (cd-HA-gelatin), carbodiimide derivatized gelatin to which lubricin was added in a second step (cd-gelatin + lubricin), or carbodiimide derivatized gelatin/HA + lubricin (cd-HA-gelatin + lubricin). After treatment, gliding resistance was measured up to 1,000 cycles of simulated flexion/extension motion. The increase in average and peak gliding resistance in cd-HA-gelatin, cd-gelatin + lubricin, and cd-HA-gelatin + lubricin tendons was less than the control tendons after 1,000 cycles (p < 0.05). The increase in average gliding resistance of cd-HA-gelatin + lubricin treated tendons was also less than that of the cd-HA-gelatin treated tendons (p < 0.05). The surfaces of the repaired tendons and associated pulleys were assessed qualitatively with scanning electron microscopy and appeared smooth after 1,000 cycles of tendon motion for the cd-HA-gelatin, cd-gelatin + lubricin, and cd-HA-gelatin + lubricin treated tendons, while that of the saline control appeared roughened. These results suggest that tendon surface modification can improve tendon gliding ability, with a trend suggesting that lubricin fixed on the repaired tendon may provide additional improvement over that provided by HA and gelatin alone.
Taguchi
Manabu
M
Orthopedic Biomechanics Laboratory, Division of Orthopedic Research, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota 55905, USA.
Sun
Yu-Long
YL
Zhao
Chunfeng
C
Zobitz
Mark E
ME
Cha
Chung-Ja
CJ
Jay
Gregory D
GD
An
Kai-Nan
KN
Amadio
Peter C
PC
D000818:Animals; D002234:Carbodiimides; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004285:Dogs; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D017276:Friction / Q000187:drug effects; D005780:Gelatin / Q000494:pharmacology; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000502:physiology; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D013499:Surface Properties / Q000187:drug effects; D013708:Tendon Injuries / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery*; D013710:Tendons / Q000502:physiology* / Q000601:surgery* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D000099158:Proteoglycan 4
D002234:Carbodiimides; D005780:Gelatin; D006023:Glycoproteins; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid; D000099158:Proteoglycan 4