title: The growth factors involved in flexor tendon repair and adhesion formation.
abstract: Flexor tendon injuries remain a significant clinical problem, owing to the formation of adhesions or tendon rupture. A number of strategies have been tried to improve outcomes, but as yet none are routinely used in clinical practice. Understanding the role that growth factors play in tendon repair should enable a more targeted approach to be developed to improve the results of flexor tendon repair. This review describes the main growth factors in tendon wound healing, and the role they play in both repair and adhesion formation.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Plastic Surgery Research and Education, The Royal Free Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: O A
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Branford
authors.forename: B R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Klass
authors.forename: A O
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Grobbelaar
authors.forename: K J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Rolfe
mesh_terms: D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000502:physiology; D055513:Connective Tissue Growth Factor / Q000502:physiology; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000502:physiology; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor / Q000502:physiology; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor / Q000502:physiology; D013708:Tendon Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D000267:Tissue Adhesions / Q000378:metabolism; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000502:physiology; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000502:physiology; D014945:Wound Healing
chemical_list: D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; C526317:CCN2 protein, human; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D055513:Connective Tissue Growth Factor; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor
keywords: Flexor tendon; growth factors; tendon adhesion; tendon repair