OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical efficacy of mini-open repair for the treatment of acute closed achilles tendon ruptures.

METHODSFrom April 2012 and October 2013,14 patients (14 feet) with acute closed achilles tendon ruptures were treated in our department. They were 9 males and 5 females, with an average age of 30.5 years old (ranged, 25 to 49 years old). The interval between injury and operation ranged from 1 to 13 days (8 days on average). A longitudinal incision approximately 1.5 to 2.0 cm in length was made around the ruptured achilles tendon for mini-open repair after insertion of oval clamp. Postoperative rehabilitation was carried out.

RESULTSThe wounds healed at the first stage except 2 cases with slow recovery. All the patients were followed up for 6 to 24 months, with an average of 11 months. According to the ankle-hindfoot scoring system of American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS),the score was 92.71 ± 6.58 (82 to 100).

CONCLUSIONThe surgical treatment of acute achilles tendon rupture with mini-open repair has advantages of little invasion, a low rate of incision problems, quick function recovery, and simple operation, and it is suitable for primary hospital.

Achilles Tendon ; injuries ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Tendon Injuries ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome ; Wound Healing

OBJECTIVETo explore the clinical effect of interference screw and flexor hallucis longus tendon as augmentation material in repair of chronic Achilles tendon rupture.

METHODSFrom September 2010 to June 2012,26 patients with chronic Achilles tendon rupture were treated, including 18 males and 8 females with an average age of 44.2 years old (20 to 66 years old). All patients were unilateral damage. MRI showed the Achilles tendon.ends' distance was 6.0 to 9.0 cm. The postoperative complications were observed. The curative effect was assessed by American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society and Leppilahti score.

RESULTSAll the 26 patients were followed up for 18 to 68 months (means 30.4 months). No neurological injury and infection of incision occurred, all patients were stage I incision healing. The shape and function of the ankle were recovered well. The average AOFAS score increased from 52.27±12.30 preoperatively to 90.92±6.36 postoperatively. Leppilahti Achilles Tendon Repair score increased from 34.23±12.86 preoperatively to 90.00±5.10 postoperatively.

CONCLUSIONThe flexor hallucis tendon transfer with an interference screw technique for repairing the chronic Achilles tendon rupture of type IV of Kuwada had advantages of simple operation, quick recovery, firm tendon fixation, and less complications.

Achilles Tendon ; injuries ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Adult ; Bone Screws ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; instrumentation ; methods ; Rupture ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Tendon Injuries ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Tendon Transfer ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

BACKGROUNDTo repair late median nerve injury, many methods have been used in the past years. The aim of this study was to review a thirteen-year experience in restoration of thumb opposition by transposing flexor pollicis brevis muscle.

METHODSFrom July 1992 to August 2005, 63 patients without thumb opposition because of late median never injury were treated by transposing the flexor pollicis brevis muscle. All the patients had received primary nerve repair after the jnjury. The interval between the injury and the second operation was (1.87 +/- 2.31) years (6 months to 4.2 years). The patients were followed up for 3 to 48 [months mean (22.93 +/- 2.31) months]. A functional evaluation system designed in 1992 were used to estimate the outcomes of the patients.

RESULTSAll the patients gained excellent functional results without complications and disabilities during follow-up.

CONCLUSIONSRestoration of thumb opposition by transposing flexsor pollicis brevis muscle has the following advantages: 1. Operative trauma is minimal; 2. It is not necessary to transpose other tendons; 3. Except for the thumb in opposition, movements of other fingers and the wrist are not restricted postoperatively.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Biomechanical Phenomena ; Female ; Forearm Injuries ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Median Nerve ; injuries ; Middle Aged ; Muscle, Skeletal ; surgery ; Tendon Transfer ; Thumb ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Wrist Injuries ; physiopathology ; surgery

OBJECTIVE: To analyse the effect of low intensity pulsed ultrasound stimulation (LIPUS) on accelerating the fibrocartilage layer repair of patella-patellar tendon junction. METHODS: A total of 60 mature female New Zealand white rabbits undergoing standard partial patellectomy were divided into 2 groups randomly. The control group was given comfort treatment and the treatment group was given LIPUS treatment starting from day 3 to the end of week 6 postoperatively. The scheduled time points of animal euthanization would be at week 6, week 12 and week 18 postoperatively. The patella-patellar tendon (PPT) complex would be harvested and cut into sections after decalcification for H&E staining, Safranine o/fast green staining. The thickness and gray value of fibrocartilage layer were analyzed by SANO Microscope Partner image analyzer. RESULTS: At week 6, week 12 and week 18 postoperatively, the fibrocartilage layer in the treatment group was significantly thicker than that in the control group (P<0.01), and the gray value of fibrocartilage layer was significantly smaller than that in the control group (P<0.01). CONCLUSION LIPUS helps to accelerate the fibrocartilage layer repair of patella-patellar tendon junction in rabbit models.
Animals ; Female ; Fibrocartilage ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Patella ; surgery ; Patellar Ligament ; injuries ; pathology ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Rabbits ; Tendon Injuries ; therapy ; Ultrasonic Therapy ; methods ; Wound Healing ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical therapeutic effects of anchors, peroneus brevis tendon augmentation and plantaris muscle tendon covering on the reconstruction of achilles tendon rupture caused by corticosteroids injection.

METHODSFrom March 2005 to April 2010, the clinical data of 10 patients with acute achilles tendon rupture repaired with suture anchors, peroneus brevis tendon augmentation and plantaris muscle tendon covering were retrospectively analyzed. The achilles tendon rupture was caused by corticosteroids injection. There were 8 males and 2 females with a mean age of (46.80 +/- 2.83) years old(ranged from 21 to 68 years). Postoperative complications, the range of movement of affected foot, number of consecutive heel raises and single leg jumpings were recorded. Functional recovery of achilles tendon were assessed according to ankle and hindfoot scores of the American Orthopedic Foot Ankle Society (AOFAS).

RESULTSAll patients were followed up for 12 to 18 months with an average of 13.5 months. No wound infection, re-rupture and rejection reaction were found. At the last follow-up, there was no significant difference in the range of movement between affected foot (54.5 +/- 6.3) degrees and unaffected foot (56.8 +/- 3.8) degrees (t = 0.989, P = 0.336). The affected foot could raise heel and do single-leg hops for 10 times continuosly. There was significant difference in AOFAS between preoperative score (67.3 +/- 7.6) and postoperative score (95.5 +/- 7.6) (t = 8.297, P = 0.000);and there was no significant difference between affected foot scores (95.5 +/- 7.6)and unaffected foot scores (98.5 +/- 6.3) (t = 0.961, P = 0.349). Function recovery of achilles tendon: 9 cases were good, 1 case was fine.

CONCLUSIONAnchors, peroneus brevis tendon augmentation and plantaris muscle tendon covering for the reconstruction of achilles tendon rupture caused by corticosteroids injection is a reliable and effective method, with advantage of simple operation, dependable fixation and less complications.

Achilles Tendon ; injuries ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; adverse effects ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Injections ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Recovery of Function ; Rupture ; surgery ; Tendon Injuries ; physiopathology ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo investigate the characteristics of work needed to release adhesion in the early stage of flexor tendon healing.

METHODSEighty-four profoundus flexor tendons of the 3rd toe of Sanhuang chicken were severed and repaired by either Modified Kessler technique or Tsuge technique randomly. At 0, 1, 4, 7, 10, 14, 21 d after the operation, 6 tendons from each repair technique group were harvested and tested by biomechanical test machine. An elongation force-elongation distance curve was obtained and work of adhesion release was calculated in this curve. Whether adhesion band had been released or not was confirmed by gross inspection immediately after the test.

RESULTSWork of adhesion release: this work significantly increased at the 7th day in Modified Kessler group and at the 10th day in Tsuge group. Modified Kessler group was significantly higher than Tsuge group at the 7th day. At the 21st day after operation, adhesion could not be effectively released by full range excursion of flexor tendon profoundus.

CONCLUSIONWork of adhesion release begins to increase significantly since the 7th approximately 10th day postoperatively. At the 21st day after the operation, adhesion could not be fully released by full range of flexor tendon profoundus flexion.

Animals ; Chickens ; Male ; Stress, Mechanical ; Suture Techniques ; Tendon Injuries ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Tendons ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Tensile Strength ; Time Factors ; Tissue Adhesions ; physiopathology ; Wound Healing

Traumatic rupture of the superior oblique muscle is rare. We report a case of a 54-year-old man injured by the metal hook of a hanger, resulting in a rupture of the superior oblique muscle tendon. He complained of torsional diplopia when in the primary position. The distal margin of the superior oblique muscle was reattached to sclera 5 and 9 mm apart from the medial insertion of the superior rectus muscle. One week after the operation, torsional diplopia disappeared. However, a 4-prism diopter ipsilateral hypertropia was observed. Three months later, hypertropia gradually increased to 20 prism dioptors and the second operation was done to correct vertical diplopia.
Diplopia/etiology/physiopathology/surgery ; Eye Injuries/complications/*diagnosis/surgery ; *Eye Movements ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Oculomotor Muscles/*injuries/physiopathology/surgery ; Ophthalmologic Surgical Procedures/*methods ; Strabismus/etiology/physiopathology/surgery ; Tendon Injuries/complications/*diagnosis/surgery

BACKGROUNDThe main goals of flexor tendon surgery are to restore digital motion by providing tendon healing and to preserve tendon gliding. Our purpose was to investigate the effects of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) on tendon adhesions in partially divided profundus flexor tendons (flexor digitorum profundus [FDPs]) following surgical repair and in partially divided FDPs without surgical repair, and to compare the results of the repair versus the nonrepair of zone two injuries via macroscopic and biomechanical evaluations of tendon adhesions.

METHODSWe used 32 adult male European rabbits (Oryctolagus cunniculus) weighing from 2.5 to 3.5 kg. The study was performed on the deep flexor tendons of the second and third digits of the right hind paws of the rabbits; thus, a total of 64 tendons were examined in this study.

RESULTSBased on the results achieved in our experimental study, the load (N) significantly increased in subgroup 1a in which the tendons were surgically repaired and were not treated with 5-FU compared with subgroup 2a in which tendons were surgically repaired and treated with 5-FU.

CONCLUSIONSThe load (N) significantly increased in subgroup 1a in which the tendons were surgically repaired and were not treated with 5-FU compared to subgroup 2a in which the tendons were surgically repaired and treated with 5-FU. Therefore, these results revealed a decrease in adhesion formation in the subgroup that was treated with 5-FU due to increased resistance to tendon adhesions during their excursion through the tendon sheath, which in this case required greater traction force.

Animals ; Fluorouracil ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Rabbits ; Tendon Injuries ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Tendons ; drug effects ; pathology ; Tissue Adhesions ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Wound Healing ; drug effects

BACKGROUND: This study was designed to perform conventional ultrasonography, magnetic resonance arthrography (MRA) and arthrosonography exams after rotator cuff repair to compare the results of conventional ultrasonography and arthrosonography with those of MRA as the gold standard. METHODS: We prospectively studied 42 consecutive patients (14 males, 28 females; average age, 59.4 years) who received arthroscopic rotator cuff repair due to full-thickness tears of the supraspinatus tendon from 2008 to 2010. The integrity assessment of the repaired rotator cuff was performed 6 months postoperatively using conventional ultrasonography, MRA, and arthrosonography. RESULTS: The diagnostic accuracy of the conventional ultrasonography compared to MRA was 78.6% and the McNemar test results were 0.016 in full-thickness tear and 0.077 in partial-thickness tear. The diagnostic accuracy of arthrosonography compared to MRA was 92.9% and the McNemar test results were 0.998 in full-thickness tear and 0.875 in partial-thickness tear. CONCLUSIONS: It was found that the integrity assessment of the repaired rotator cuff by ultrasonography must be guarded against and that arthrosonography is an effective alternative method in the postoperative integrity assessment. Also, an arthrosonography seems to be a suitable modality to replace the conventional ultrasonography.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Arthrography ; Arthroscopy ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Rotator Cuff/injuries/physiopathology/surgery/*ultrasonography ; Shoulder Joint/physiopathology/surgery/*ultrasonography ; Tendon Injuries/diagnosis/physiopathology/surgery/*ultrasonography ; Wound Healing

Although extensor tendon rupture often occurs after volar plating for a distal radius fracture, a flexor tendon rupture is extremely rare. Most reported instances of flexor tendon ruptures after volar plating have involved improper placement of the plate, increased prominence of the distal edge of the plate because of collapse of the fracture site, use of custom-made plates, current steroid use by the patient, or a history of tendon injury. We report a case of delayed rupture of the flexor pollicis longus tendon 40 months after volar plating with a 3.5-mm T-locking compression plate for which the distal edge was located at the transverse ridge level of the distal radius. If symptoms such as tendon irritation occur in this situation, surgeons should consider removing the plate as soon as possible after bony union is achieved.
*Bone Plates ; Female ; Fracture Fixation, Internal/*methods ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Radius Fractures/*complications/pathology/*surgery ; Rupture ; Tendon Injuries/*etiology/*surgery ; Thumb/physiopathology