Effects of synovial interposition on healing in a canine tendon explant culture model.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether synovium interposition between repaired tendon ends can integrate into the tendon repair and improve tendon healing strength in a canine tendon explant culture model.


METHODS
We used 80 flexor digitorum profundus tendons from 10 mixed-breed dogs for this study. The flexor digitorum profundus tendons were assigned to 2 groups: repaired tendons with synovium implanted between the cut tendon ends and repaired tendons without any implantation between the tendon ends. The repaired tendons were cultured for either 2 or 4 weeks and then assessed mechanically for rupture strength and histology.


RESULTS
The strength of the repaired tendons with the synovium interposition was significantly higher (p < .001) than the repaired tendons without interposition at both 2 and 4 weeks. The strength of the repaired tendons at 4 weeks was significantly higher than that at 2 weeks in both groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Interpositional synovial grafts have the potential to accelerate tendon healing when they are implanted at the repair site. The exact mechanism of this effect remains to be elucidated.
Ikeda
Jun
J
Orthopedic Biomechanics Laboratory, Division of Orthopedic Research, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
Zhao
Chunfeng
C
Moran
Steven L
SL
An
Kai-Nan
KN
Amadio
Peter C
PC
D000818:Animals; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D004285:Dogs; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D016014:Linear Models; D023421:Models, Animal; D013536:Suture Techniques; D000074402:Synovectomy; D013583:Synovial Membrane / Q000637:transplantation*; D013710:Tendons / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D013718:Tensile Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D016378:Tissue Transplantation / Q000379:methods; D020858:Tissue and Organ Harvesting; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology