Structural and biomechanical characteristics of the diaphragmatic tendon in infancy and childhood: an initial analysis.
BACKGROUND
Engineered tendon grafts have been shown, experimentally, to be promising alternatives for partial diaphragmatic replacement. This study was aimed at determining the cellularity, extracellular matrix composition, and biomechanical characteristics of the diaphragmatic tendon in infants and children to be used as a reference for proper diaphragmatic graft engineering.


METHODS
The left diaphragmatic tendon was procured at autopsy from 13 patients divided into 2 groups. Group I (n = 9) consisted of newborns and infants. Group II (n = 4) consisted of children and adolescents. Samples underwent quantitative assays for total DNA, glycosaminoglycans, collagen, and elastin contents. Biomechanical measurements included modular and ultimate tensile strength analyses. Statistical comparisons were by the 2-sample Student's t test.


RESULTS
Group I showed significantly higher levels of total DNA, glycosaminoglycans, collagen, and elastin than group II. Conversely, group II tended to have higher modular and ultimate tensile strengths.


CONCLUSIONS
In neonates and infants, the diaphragmatic tendon has increased cell density and higher levels of major extracellular matrix components than in older children, in whom the diaphragmatic tendon tends to have higher tensile strength. Engineered diaphragmatic constructs should be tailored to the distinct anatomical, functional, and biomechanical characteristics of the diaphragmatic tendon at different age groups.
Steigman
Shaun A
SA
Department of Surgery, Children's Hospital Boston, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
Oh
Jung-Tak
JT
Almendinger
Nikki
N
Javid
Patrick
P
LaVan
David
D
Fauza
Dario
D
D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D002648:Child; D003094:Collagen; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis; D003964:Diaphragm; D004549:Elastin; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology; D006025:Glycosaminoglycans; D006548:Hernia, Diaphragmatic / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D012016:Reference Values; D013710:Tendons / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D013718:Tensile Strength; D023822:Tissue Engineering
D006025:Glycosaminoglycans; D003094:Collagen; D004247:DNA; D004549:Elastin