Between 1988 and 1994, 78 cases (183 tendons) of flexor tendon injuries of the hand were repaired by microsurgical techique. The patients were followed up from4 to 6 months. The results were assessed according to the grading method of TAM. In 36 cases, 78 tendons were repaired by microsurgical suture and the excellentgood rate reached 76.2 per cent and the other 42 cases, 105 tendons were repaired with biological memberane wrapped arround the anastomotic site following microsurgical suture, in which, 32 cases, 77 tendons were followed up and the excellentgood rate was 89.5 per cent. The curative effect between the two groups hadsignificant difference statistically (Plt;0.05). Those cases with a bad results were mainly those injuries occurred in Zone II which had very poor soft tissue condition of the palm and thoes old cases having extensive scar tissue formation surrounding the tendon bed.
Objective To assess an effect of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) applied topically on the tendon adhesion and the healing process after the flexor tendon repair in Leghorn chickens. Methods Thirtytwo white Leghorn chickens, aged 4 months and weighing 1.5-1.7 kg, were randomly divided into 2 groups: Group A andGroup B, with 16 chickens in each group. The flexor digitorum profundus tendons of the 2nd, 3rd and 4th toes were transected and repaired. The repair site in Group A was given 5-FU in a concentration of 25 mg/ml with a soaked sponge that wascut into pieces 7 mm×20 mm×1 mm in size, and the synovial sheath of the repair site was wrapped with the 5-FU-soaked sponge for 1 min for 4 times. The repair site in Group B was served as a control, with no 5-FU but with the sterile normal saline. At 3 and 6 weeks postoperatively, the repaired tendons and the tendon adhesion formation were examined macroscopically and histologically，and the repaired tendons were tested biomechanically. The tissue blocks from the tendon repair site were examined under the transmission electron microscope. Results At 3 and 6 weeks postoperatively, the macroscopic and histological observation showed that the peritendinous adhesions in Group A were looser when compared with those in Group B. The length of the tendon gliding and the extent of yieldance to exercise were found to be 4.85±1.31 mm, 0.67±0.42 mm and 5.74±1.61 mm, 1.55±0.35 mm respectively at 3 and 6 weeks after operation in Group A，but 2.99±0.51mm，0.24±0.14 mm and 3.65±0.54 mm, 1.22±0.16 mm in Group B.Group A was significantly greater in the abovementioned parameters than Group B (P＜0.05).At 3 weeks after operation, the ultimate breaking strength was 20.28±4.92 N in Group A and 21.29±4.88 N in Group B, with no statistically significant difference found between the two groups (P＞0.05). At 6 weeks, the ultimate breaking strength was 47.12±6.76 N in Group A but 39.31±7.20 N in Group B, with a significant difference between the two groups (P＜0.05). Conclusion 5-fuorouracil, when appliedtopically, can reduce the tendon adhesion, with no inhibition of the intrinsic healing mechanism. It is an ideal treatment strategy to prevent peritendinous adhesion.
Objective To make a comparison for the change of maximum tensile intensity and stiffness of a whole implant that is placed into bone tunnel with various lengths tendon, by using beagle dog’s autogenous flexor tendons to reconstruct anterior cruciate l igament (ACL). Methods Sixty male beagle dogs were included in the experiment (weighting 13-16 kg). Three dogs were used for intact flexor tendon of both knees (normal control group), 3 dogs for the intact ACL andfemur-graft-tibia complex (auto control group) and 54 dogs (108 knees) for models of reconstructed ACL (6 experimentalgroups according to different lengths of tendon: 5, 9, 13, 17, 21 and 25 mm in the bone tunnel). The tensile intensity and stiffness were measured after 45, 90 and 180 days separately after operation. Results In the normal control group, the maximum tensile intensity of the intact flexor tendon was (564.15 ± 36.18) N, the stiffness was (59.89 ± 4.28) N/ mm. In the auto control group, the maximum tensile intensity of the intact ACL was (684.75 ± 48.10) N, the stiffness was (74.34 ± 6.99) N/ mm, all ruptured through the intra-articular portion of the graft. The maximum tensile intensity of femur-graft-tibia complex in the auto control group was (301.92 ± 15.04) N, the stiffness was (31.35 ± 1.97) N/mm. After 45 days of operation, all failure occurred at the tibial or femoral insertion site. After 90 days of operation, 24 of the breakpoints were scattered in tendon-bone junction, 12 (3 in 17 mm group, 5 in 21 mm group, 4 in 25 mm group) ruptured through the intra-articular portion. After 180 days of the operation, all breakpoints were distributed inside joint of the implant. The maximum tensile intensity and the stiffness were ber in 17, 21 and 25 mm groups than in 5, 9 and 13 mm groups after operation (P lt; 0.05). Conclusion Tendon with 17 mm length, which will be implanted into bone tunnel, is an appl icable index, in reconstruction of ACL by autogenous tendons.
Objective To probe into the surgical methods and therapeutic effect of repairing old calcaneal tendon rupture and defects with tissue engineered tendons. Methods The tissue engineered tendons were prefabricated by co-cultivatingallogeneic tendon cells with composite of carbon fiber and polyglycolic acid for 5 days. From August 1999 to June 2002, 7 patients with calcaneal tendon rupture and defects (5-7 cm in length) were treated with tissue engineered tendons. The defects were repaired by suturing repeatedly with tissue engineered tendons. Meanwhile, the defects were covered by gastrocnemius fascial flap for protection and strengthening. After surgery, the ankle joints were fixed with plaster 4to 6 weeks, and then the functional exercise was done. Results All the patients were followed up 22 to 56 months (46.9 months on average). Six patients achieved healing by the first intention, only one patient had delayed union. No local or systemic complication occurred in all the cases. No patients were given the second operation for adhesion. In accordance with YIN Qingshui’s criterion for therapeutic effect,the results were excellent in 5 cases, good in 1 case and moderate in 1 case. Conclusion Repairing old rupture and defects of calcaneal tendon withtissue engineered tendons can achieve good clinical outcome, it is an optional therapy.
Three cases of common peroneal nerve injuries from sports were reported. All of the three cases were overlooked in their early treatment. The diagnosis was clarified 5 months to 33 years after injury. Because the chance of early repair was lost, they all were treated by tendon transfer with the hope to improve the function of foot. The mechanism of this type of injury and the problems related to the diagnosis and treatment were discussed.
Since 1989, 17 cases ( 18 fingers) of mallet finger underwent surgical repair of the extensor tendons of the fingers combined with postoperative perpendicular pin transfixion. The follow-up was through 3 to 8 months. The results were 13 satisfactory, 4 improved and one failure. The method of pin transfixion was introduced in detail, and the classification of mallet fingers and the principles of treatment were discussed in detail, and the classification of mallet fingers and the principles of treatment were discussed.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate availability of deep freeze stored allogenic tendon with sheath grafting in repairing the tendon and sheath defect in the II area of flexor digitorum tendon. METHODS: Sixty chickens with tendon and sheath defect were divided into 2 groups randomly, group A was treated with allogenic grafting and group B was treated with autogenic grafting, these two groups were divided into two subgroups respectively, they were, group A1 allogenic tendon with whole sheath grafting, group A2 allogenic tendon with partial sheath grafting, group B1 autogenic tendon with whole sheath grafting and group B2 autogenic tendon with whole sheath grafting. All the allogenic grafts were treated by deep freeze. Histomorphological study, histoimmunological study and slipping function of the grafts were measured after operation. RESULTS: In group A1 and B1, the local reaction was sever, the nutrition of tendon graft was barricaded by the whole sheath resulting in adhesion, degeneration and necrosis. In group A2 and B2, the tendon graft healed well and little adhesion existed between tendon and sheath. The results showed that there were significant differences between tendon grafting with whole sheath and tendon grafting with partial sheath. CONCLUSION: Deep freeze store can reduce the immunogenicity of allogenic tendon with sheath. Allogenic tendon with partial sheath grafting can be used as a new biological material for repairing the tendon and sheath defect.
Talipes equinovarus is a very common con-genital foot deformity. From 1985 till 1989,tatalof 30 feet in 23 Patients had been operated by theauthor using subtalar realigment procedure afterall the necessayr release with neurovascular bundleprotected. The position was kept by 2 Kirschner swires,one through talonavicular joint into the talus and other through calcaneous vertically upward into the talus without penetrating into the anklejoint. The total period of plaster immobilizationranged from 8 to 12 weeks. The average age at surgery 6 months old.The results were excellent in 24 feet, good in 5 and less satisfactory in 1 due to overcorrection.