Logo of The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery (Br)
Quick search:        
          Advanced Search
Guest Access | Sign In
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow My Folders
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Khan, U.
Right arrow Articles by McGrouther, D. A.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Khan, U.
Right arrow Articles by McGrouther, D. A.

Modulation of the formation of adhesions during the healing of injured tendons

U. Khan, FRCS, Specialist Registrar1; S. Kakar, MB BS, Senior House Officer1; A. Akali, FRCS Ed, Registrar1; G. Bentley, FRCS, Professor2; and D. A. McGrouther, MD, Professor1

1 Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, University College, Grafton Way, London WC1E 6AU, UK.
2 Institute of Orthopaedics, Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, Brockley Hill, Stanmore, Middlesex HA7 4LP, UK.

Correspondence should be sent to Mr U. Khan at the Department of Plastic Surgery, The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Holtye Road, East Grin-stead, West Sussex RH19 3DZ, UK.

The formation of restrictive adhesions around the musculotendinous unit after injury is one of the most vexing processes faced by the surgeon. In flexor tendons it has been shown that the synovial tissue is the source of aggressive fibroblasts which contribute to this process. Using a rabbit model, we have examined the effects of treating the synovial sheath with the antimetabolite 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) for five minutes. Inflammatory, proliferative and molecular markers were compared in the response of the treated and control tendons to injury. Compared with a control group we found that the proliferative and inflammatory responses were significantly reduced (p < 0.001) in the treated tendons. Not only was there a reduction in the cellular and cytokine response, but there also was a significant (p < 0.001) reduction in the level of activity of the known pro-scarring agent, transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-ß1). These pilot studies indicate that the formation of restrictive adhesions may be modulated using a simple single-touch technique in the hope of producing a better return of function.




This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 J Am Acad Orthop SurgHome page
S. I. Lilly and T. M. Messer
Complications after treatment of flexor tendon injuries.
J. Am. Acad. Ortho. Surg., July 1, 2006; 14(7): 387 - 396.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


(c) British Editorial Society of Bone and Joint Surgery All Rights Reserved
Registered charity no: 209299     Print ISSN: 0301-620X
Hip, Knee, Trauma, Upper limb, Foot & Ankle, Paediatrics, Oncology, Spine, Arthroplasty, General