BACKGROUND:Previous studies have confirmed that healing of in vivo tendon is the outcome of interaction between endogenous healing and exogenous healing. Exogenous healing is a main reason for tendon adhesion, and affects the recovery of tendon function.OBJECTIVE: To explore application of tissue engineering technique and its materials in prevention and treatment of tendon adhesion induced by movement injury.METHODS: Using the key words of "movement injury, biomaterial, tissue engineering, tendon adhesion", we retrieved randomized animal controlled studies and clinical application literatures addressing tendon biomechanics function, adsorbable biomaterial polyglycolic acid, tendon cells-constructed tissue engineered tendon in vitro, biomembrane, chitosan, adsorbable antistick membrane, sodium hyaluronate, bioprotein gel and so on in prevention of tendon adhesion in Chinese Journal Full-text Database published from January 1990 to December 2000. By aggregate analysis of literature data, follow-up and function evaluation, this article summarized clinical application of tissue engineered techniques and materials in prevention of tendon adhesion.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: A total of 61 literatures were primarily obtained. Following reading titles and abstracts, 31 literatures of irrelevant objectives and contents, and 9 literatures of repetitive contents were excluded. Totally 21 literatures were included for analysis. Tendon adhesion refers to hyperplasia and invasion of surrounding tissues during repair of tendon damage. With the deep understanding of tendon repair healing, application of tissue engineering to preventing tendon adhesion became more and more. Tendon healing is an interaction between endogenous healing and exogenous healing, and mainly endogenous healing, which was simultaneously associated with tendon sheath, vincula tendinum and synovial fluid. Tendon adhesion is mainly induced by excessive action of exogenous healing and damage to surrounding tissues. Tissue engineering is a novel technique. Novel biomaterials are widely used in tissue engineering performance to solve problems such as tendon injury andchondronecrosis. Presently, it Is important to reconstruct tissues, which can reach clinical outcomes of preventing adhesion.