Comparison of cortical versus cancellous bone fixation in tendon-to-bone healing with a rat trans-calcaneal suture model for Achilles tendon sleeve avulsion

Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery and Research

Research Article

Jiqiang Zhang¹  Kanglai Tang²  Shang Gao²  Chao Hu²  Yunjiao Wang² 

[1] Department of Neurology, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China;Department of Orthopaedics/Sports Medicine Center, State Key Laboratory of Trauma, Burn and Combined Injury, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Gaotanyan Street. 30, Shapingba District, 400038, Chongqing, China;

关键词: Achilles tendon sleeve avulsion;    Tendon-to-bone healing;    Trans-calcaneal suture technique;    Rat model;    Cancellous bone;    Macrophage;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s13018-022-03469-8

 received in 2022-10-27, accepted in 2022-12-22,  发布年份 2022

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundTrans-calcaneal suture technique is an economical and effective method for repairing Achilles tendon sleeve avulsion. Whether cancellous bone fixation upon this technique could accelerate tendon-to-bone healing is unknown. The purpose of this study is to compare the effect of cortical versus cancellous bone fixation on tendon–bone healing with a novel rat trans-calcaneal suture model.MethodsTrans-calcaneal suture treatment was carried out on the right hindlimb in male Sprague–Dawley rats (N = 80). They were randomly divided into the cortical group (Achilles fixed to the calcaneal cortical bone, n = 40) and the cancellous group (Achilles fixed to the calcaneal cancellous bone, n = 40). Gait analysis and immunohistochemistry were performed 1, 4, 7, and 14 days after the operation. Gross observation, biomechanical analysis, micro-CT, and histological analysis were performed 4 and 8 weeks after surgery. Independent-samples t tests were used for comparison between groups.ResultsAt 1, 4, and 7 days, the swing time of the affected limb in the cancellous group decreased, while the duty cycle, the maximum contact area, the print area, and the mean intensity increased significantly. The cross-sectional area of the tendon–bone junction in the cancellous group was smaller, and the failure load and stiffness were higher 4 weeks after the operation. The cancellous group showed more proportion of new bone and a relatively well-organized and dense connective tissue interface with better fibrocartilage-like tissue at 4 weeks after the operation. The ratio of ED2 + macrophages in the cancellous group was significantly higher than in the cortical group on 1, 4, 7, and 14 days. There were no significant differences in gait at 2 weeks, in appearance, biomechanics, new bone formation, and histology at 8 weeks after surgery between the two groups.ConclusionIn the new rat trans-calcaneal suture model, cancellous fixation can accelerate tendon-to-bone healing in the early stage, which perhaps is related to the abundant bone marrow tissue in the cancellous bone that modulates the inflammatory processes.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© The Author(s) 2023

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