title: [Experimental study on human amniotic membrane for repairing tendon sheath defect].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the feasibility and effect of human amniotic membrane in prevention of tendon adhension after tendon sheat defect repair.
  
  
  METHODS
  The amniotic membrane in size of 1.5 cm x 1.0 cm was harvested from human placenta which was voluntary donated from maternal after cesarean. Forty healthy male Leghorn chicken (aged 3-6 months) were selected, weighing (1.86 +/- 0.04) kg. The model of flexor digitorum profundus tendon and tendon sheath defects was established at the third toe. After repair of the flexor digitorum profundus tendon, the human amniotic membrane was used to repair the tendon sheath defect in the right foot (group A), but tendon sheath defect was not repaired in the left foot (group B) . At 1, 2, 4, and 6 weeks after operation, the gross and histological observations were done; the degree of tendon adhesions was graded according to Tang's tendon adhesion general observation grading standards; and the biomechanical properties (tendon slip length and total flexion angle) were tested.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All animals survived after operation and incisions healed. Gross and histological observations showed that the new tendon sheath formed with time passing after operation in groups A and B; new tendon sheath was more maturer and smoother in group A than in group B. The degree of tendon adhesions in group A was significantly less than that in group B (P < 0.05) at 1 and 6 weeks after operation. The biomechanical test results showed there was no significant difference in the tendon slip length between 2 groups at 1 and 2 weeks after operation (P > 0.05), but the tendon slip length of group A was significantly longer than that of group B at 4 and 6 weeks after operation (P < 0.05). The total flexion angle of group A was significantly smaller than that of group B at 1, 2, 4, and 6 weeks after operation (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is effective in the prevention of tendon adhesion to use the amniotic membrane for repairing the tendon sheath defect, which is beneficial to recovery of the tendon sliding function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hand Surgery, the Third Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang Hebei, 050031, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Hongfang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Dehu
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.forename: Kunlun
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Jiangbo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bai
authors.forename: Ruiyi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.forename: Guohui
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000650:Amnion / Q000637:transplantation; D000818:Animals; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D002645:Chickens; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020127:Recovery of Function; D013708:Tendon Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D013710:Tendons / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D013997:Time Factors; D000267:Tissue Adhesions / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014034:Toes / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D014945:Wound Healing