Premium
Radiofrequency reduces fibrosis in experimental tendon lesions
Author(s) -
Akamatsu Flávia,
Teodoro Walcy,
Saleh Samir,
Andrade Mauro,
Jacomo Alfredo Luiz
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.26.1_supplement.724.7
Subject(s) - medicine , tendon , fibrosis , lesion , surgery , pathology
BACKGROUND Calcaneous tendon injuries are commonly seen as consequences of sports trauma. Ideal management should provide rapid healing so early mobilization can avoid tissue adhesions. Radiofrequency (RF) produces heat by molecular friction caused by polarity changes and its therapeutic use aims reduction of the local inflammatory response. We investigated the action of the RF on the fibrosis produced after experimental lesions of the calcaneous tendon in rats. METHODS AND MATERIAL Thirty adult male Wistar rats weighing 250 to 300 g were surgically submitted to bilateral partial transverse section of the calcaneous tendon. The right tendon was treated with RF whereas the left tendon served as control. On the third postoperative day, the rats were divided into three experimental groups consisting of ten rats each which were treated with monopolar RF (Tonederm™) adjusted to 650 kHz and 1–2w, for two minutes twice a week, until they were sacrificed on the 7 th , 14 th and 28 th days, respectively. Tendons were weighed and histological specimens were studied for inflammatory cell content and fibrosis was evaluated by hidroxyprolin content. RESULTS No difference was observed concerning inflammatory cells in all groups, but significant reduction in collagen content on day 14 was related to RF treatment, as well as tendon weight as compared to controls. CONCLUSION RF treatment can reduce fibrosis in experimental tendons injuries healing and clinical studies may include RF among the therapeutic tools in tendinous lesion management.