Ultrasound therapy during experimental tendinous injury healing in rabbits

Abstract

Efficacy of ultrasound (US) therapy in modulation of peritendinolls adhesions following tendon injury in a rabbit model in-vivo was evaluated in adult New Zealand White rabbits (16) of either sex, which were randomly divided into 2 groups of 8 animals each (groups 1 and 2). A lateral curvilinear skin incision was given just above the left hock joint over the tendoachillis under thiopental sodium anaesthesia and after exposing the tendon a unifonn area of 2 cm was crushed with toothed forceps for creation of peritendinous adhesions. The surgical wound was closed in a routine manner. In group 1 (test group) ultrasonic therapy (US) was started after 3 days of tendon surgery and was given @ 0.5 W/cm2 for 5 min, daily for 10 days. In group 2 (control) no treatment was given. Clinical examination revealed no significant difference in rectal temperature, exudation. Warmth and pain scores at different time intervals. On day 14 onwards there was a significant increase (P<0.05) in tendon gliding movements in US treated group and normal gliding was seen on day 30. Air tendograms revealed early organization, minimal adhesion formation and lesser thickening of tendon at the reconstructive site in the test group. Histopathology and scanning electron microscopic observations revealed that proliferative and inflammatory responses were significantly reduced in US treated group as well as early restoration of normal arrangements of collagen fibres. The ultrasonic therapy had reduced the formation of peritendinous adhesions in treated animals. This appears to be a simple and inexpensive means of refined treatment for the management of peritendinous adhesions.