title: A novel postoperative immobilization model for murine Achilles tendon sutures.
abstract: The body's motion and function are all in part effected by a vital tissue, the tendon. Tendon injury often results in limited functioning after postoperative procedures and even for a long time after rehabilitation. Although numerous studies have reported surgical procedures using animal models which have contributed to both basic and clinical research, modeling of tendon sutures or postoperative immobilizations has not been performed on small experimental animals, such as mice. In this study we have developed an easy Achilles tendon suture and postoperative ankle fixation model in a mouse. Right Achilles tendons were incised and 10-0 nylons were passed through the proximal and distal ends using a modified Kessler method. Subsequently, the right ankle was immobilized in a plantarflexed position with novel splints, which were made from readily available extension tubes. Restriction of the tendon using handmade splints reduced swelling, as opposed to fixating with the usual plaster of Paris. Using this method, the usage of the right Achilles tendons began on postoperative days 13.5 ± 4.6, which indicated healing within two weeks. Therefore our simple short-term murine Achilles tendon suture procedure is useful for studying immediate tendon repair mechanisms in various models, including genetically-modified mice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan Biotechnology Research Institute for Drug Discovery, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Ibaraki, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoichiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shibuya
authors.affiliation: Biotechnology Research Institute for Drug Discovery, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Ibaraki, Japan.
authors.forename: Yuzo
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Takayama
authors.affiliation: Biotechnology Research Institute for Drug Discovery, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Ibaraki, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroko
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kushige
authors.affiliation: Gene Expression Laboratory, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, California, USA.
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jacinto
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan.
authors.forename: Mitsuru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sekido
authors.affiliation: Biotechnology Research Institute for Drug Discovery, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Ibaraki, Japan y-kida@aist.go.jp.
authors.forename: Yasuyuki S
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Kida
mesh_terms: D000125:Achilles Tendon / Q000293:injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D000818:Animals; D007103:Immobilization / Q000379:methods*; D051379:Mice; D023421:Models, Animal; D011184:Postoperative Period; D013536:Suture Techniques; D013708:Tendon Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D014945:Wound Healing
keywords: Achilles; mouse; splint; suture; tendon