Early nerve regeneration after Achilles tendon rupture — a prerequisite for healing? A study in the rat

Nerve regeneration during healing of Achilles tendon rupture in the rat was studied by immunohistochemistry including semi-quantitative assessment. Neuronal markers for regenerating and mature fibers, ie., growth associated protein 43 (GAP-43) and protein gene product 9.5 (PGP 9.5), respectively, were analyzed at different time points (1-16 weeks) post-rupture. In the paratenon, both the ruptured and intact contralateral tendon (control) consistently exhibited immunoreactivity to the two neuronal markers. However, in the proper tendinous tissue only the ruptured tendon showed immunoreactivity to GAP-43 and PGP 9.5. This expression was seen already at week 1 post-rupture to reach a peak at week 6 followed by a successive drop till week 16. Also the occurrence of sensory and autonomic fibers according to immunoreactivity for calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and neuropeptide Y (NPY), respectively, was analyzed. CGRP-positivity was abundantly seen from weeks 2-6 in both perivascular and sprouting free nerve endings in the proper tendon tissue undergoing healing. NPY appeared later, at weeks 6-8 post-rupture around blood vessels mainly located in the surrounding loose connective tissue. Apart from a role in vasoaction (CGRP, vasodilatory; NPY, vasoconstrictory). both neuropeptides have been implicated in fibroblast and endothelial cell proliferation required for angiogenesis. The present study shows that early healing of ruptured tendons is characterized by an orchestrated, temporal appearance of nerve fibers expressing peptides with different actions. The observed pattern of neuronal regeneration and neuropeptide expression may prove to be important for normal connective tissue healing.     

腓动脉皮支逆行岛状皮瓣的解剖与应用改进

目的探讨腓动脉皮支逆行岛状皮瓣的解剖学基础及临床应用效果。方法采用新鲜及防腐尸体下肢共25肢,对腓动脉皮支进行解剖学观测。于2003年9月~2005年6月收治足跖趾关节处软组织缺损患者10例,男8例,女2例。年龄21~55岁。其中背侧6例,跖侧4例,缺损范围10cm×6cm~15cm×10cm。应用带有外踝上11.0±1.7cm腓动脉固定皮支的腓动脉皮支逆行岛状皮瓣修复,皮瓣范围11.0cm×6.5cm~16.0cm×11.0cm。供区6例直接减张缝合,4例行自体游离皮片覆盖。结果解剖学观测外踝上11.0±1.7cm自腓动脉发出一固定皮支,起始点直径1.45±0.12mm,入深筋膜点距腓肠神经营养血管皮瓣轴线15.70±1.20mm。10例患者术后皮瓣均成活,血运良好,无静脉回流障碍;供区愈合良好。术后获随访6~12个月,皮瓣外形良好,质地、色泽与周边相似,足功能恢复良好,两点辨别觉11~18mm。结论腓动脉皮支逆行岛状皮瓣经改进后血运好,逆转距离长,修复范围大,操作简便,为临床修复足中远端软组织缺损提供了一种新方法。     

短伸肌腱修复供足第1跖骨深横韧带(附55例报告)

目的在第2足趾移植再造拇指术中,应用     

指伸肌腱修复术后的早期控制下活动

目的 防治指伸肌腱修复术后因制动所致的并发症。方法 对15例Ⅴ～Ⅷ区指伸肌腱损伤修复术后设计活动支具，早期行控制下活动。结果 术后3—6个月随访，按TAM标准评定疗效，优良率100％，无1例发生肌腱断裂。结论 指伸肌腱修复术后早期行控制下活动，是防治术后并发症的有效方法。     

Anatomy and pathophysiology of the popliteal tendon area in the lateral meniscus: 1. Arthroscopic and anatomical investigation

An arthroscopic and anatomical investigation was performed to define the abnormal conditions of the popliteal tendon area in a lateral meniscus. Arthroscopic findings for 100 patients and anatomical observations of 10 amputated knees were analyzed. Five of the 10 dissected menisci were also examined histologically. Menisco-tibial coronary ligaments were classified into two types, as follows: type I--a coronary ligament covering an entire popliteal tendon beneath the meniscus; type II--a popliteal tendon visible beneath the meniscus through defects of the coronary ligament. Twenty-one of 100 cases were classified as type I, and 79 were classified as type II. Three of the 10 anatomical dissections were type I, and the remaining 7 were type II. Menisci in which the type I coronary ligaments were thought to be torn and menisci with type II coronary ligaments showed a rather marked mobility, but no conclusion could be reached.     

Delayed Keloid Lesion After Endoscopic Surgery of the Achilles Tendon

A case history of a 32-year-old female Olympic pole vaulter is reported. Two months after endoscopic surgery for chronic Achilles tendinopathy, she developed a keloid lesion on the hindfoot area. She was treated with corticosteroids, topical and intralesional injections. A satisfactory result was obtained, and the athlete was able to resume her competitive activity at 5 months after surgery. Keloid pathogenesis, treatment, and prevention are briefly discussed.     

Spiral-shaped Metallic Implant in the Treatment of Achilles Tendon Ruptures: An Experimental Study on the Achilles Tendon of Sheep

There are 2 main factors contributing to the strength of tendon repair: the tensile strength of the material used in repair and the tendon-holding capacity of the suture configuration. In the current study, we aimed to find a technique with high repair strength by increasing both the tensile strength of the material and the tendon-holding capacity of the configuration. We developed metal implants (models 1 and 2) made from stainless-steel wire with 2 different spiral-shaped configurations. We measured tendon-holding capacities of these alternative implants biomechanically and compared them with frequently used suture techniques, the Bunnell and locking loop, which were achieved with 5 Ticron sutures. Sixty-four sheep Achilles' tendons were used in the study as 16 tendons in each group. Model 2 was more resistant to deformation under loading when compared with model 1. The results demonstrated that model 2 was superior to model 1 and both suture techniques. This study could be accepted as a step for reaching a strong tendon repair technique. It should be emphasized that the technique needs to be improved technically to make it convenient for clinical use.     

不同频率电针刺激对大鼠髌腱血流量变化的影响

目的:探讨分析不同频率电针治疗时肌腱血流的变化及其变化机制。方法:将40只Wistar大鼠分为2Hz组、10Hz组、100Hz组和针刺(10Hz)+阿托品组、针刺(10Hz)+酚妥拉明组。手术剥离出大鼠胫骨粗隆上缘的髌腱,利用超声测定技术,观察针刺足三里和梁丘穴前后髌腱血流量的变化。并采用静脉滴入阿托品和酚妥拉明的方法,对针刺作用机制进行分析。结果:(1)2Hz组和10Hz组在针刺过程中,髌骨腱血流量分别下降至针刺前的82.11±10.8%、49.17±11.63%,针刺停止后,两组血流量却逆转为高于针刺前的水平,以10Hz组上升幅度较为明显;(2)100Hz组针刺过程中,血流量下降至针刺前的37.54±12.79%,针刺停止后血流量未恢复到针刺前的水平;(3)针刺(10Hz)+阿托品组:针刺时血流量降低至44.61±12.01%,停针后血流量未出现增加现象;(4)针刺(10Hz)+酚妥拉明组:针刺时血流量增加至119.73±14.66%,针刺停止后血流量继续增加。结论:(1)电针刺激期间髌腱血流下降,刺激停止后血流量明显增加;(2)中、低频率刺激对血流量增加效果优于高频刺激;(3)针刺对血流量的影响与舒血管神经和缩血管神经的调节有关。     

Neglected rupture of the Achilles tendon treated with peroneus brevis transfer: A functional assessment of 5 cases

The purpose of this study was to review the clinical results of 5 patients who underwent repair of a chronic Achilles tendon rupture using a combination of peroneus brevis transfer and plantaris tendon augmentation. The technique belongs to the group of local tendon transfer procedures making use of the transferred peroneus brevis tendon as strengthening material together with the plantaris tendon as suturing material. There were 4 males and 1 female with an average age of 49.4 years and an average time to presentation postinjury of 19.8 weeks (range 5-40 wk). All patients underwent Cybex strength testing before and approximately 1 year after surgery. This testing demonstrated a postoperative improvement in peak plantarflexion torque (Newton-meters/body weight) in all cases. The peak torque of plantar flexion increased in all patients (range, 21%-410%). Four patients were found to have an increase of the dorsal flexors peak torque (range, 31%-290%), whereas one patient showed a decrease (-37%). No patient experienced wound closure complications, postoperative pain, or functional limitations. In spite the possibility of residual lateral ankle instability, we found this modification to be a valuable innovation that offers a very good functional result, low morbidity, technical advantages to the surgeon and, most important, a durable and satisfactory result for the patients.