Purpose
The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of joint synovial fluid on tendon-to-bone
healing in intra-articular ligament reconstruction of the knee.
Methods
We divided 40 female New Zealand white rabbits into 4 groups randomly, with 10 animals
in each group. Transfer of the semitendinosus tendon to the tibial bone tunnel was
performed to create tendon-to-bone healing models. An intra-articular bone tunnel
(IBT) was used on the left side and an extra-articular bone tunnel (EBT) on the right.
Histologic evaluation was performed at 2, 4, and 8 weeks after the operation and biomechanical
testing at 8 weeks.
Results
On the basis of fibroblast proliferation, collagen fiber density, collagen fiber orientation,
and tendon-to-bone connection, histologic scores were significantly lower in the IBT
group than in the EBT group at 2, 4, and 8 weeks. Cell counts per high-power field
at the tendon-bone interface were significantly lower in the IBT group than in the
EBT group at 2 and 4 weeks. In addition, biomechanical testing showed that the IBT
group was significantly inferior to the EBT group in terms of ultimate failure load,
yield load, and stiffness. There was also a significant difference between the 2 groups
in failure mode.
Conclusions
Joint synovial fluid appeared to have an inhibitory effect on tendon-to-bone healing
in rabbits at an early stage.
Clinical Relevance
Our findings imply that prevention of infiltration of joint synovial fluid into the
bone tunnel might be beneficial in improving the clinical outcome of cruciate ligament
reconstruction of the knee.
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: May 21, 2012
Accepted:
February 16,
2012
Received:
July 24,
2011
Footnotes
The authors report that they have no conflicts of interest in the authorship and publication of this article.
Identification
Copyright
© 2012 Arthroscopy Association of North America. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
