Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1 Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran
2 Department of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran
Abstract
This study aimed to investigatenuchal ligament (NL) autograft on experimental tendon defect healing in donkeys. Eight healthy donkeys were used. The left forelimb’s superficial digital flexor (SDF) tendon was assigned as treatment, and the right forelimb was allocated as the control group (without surgical intervention). A 3×1.5 cm segment of the funicular part of the NL was excised. A full thickness defect created in the treatment tendon and was grafted with the excised NL. The following parameters were evaluated in 120 days postoperatively: clinical, ultrasonography, radiography, histopathology, biomechanical properties, and scanning and electronic transmission microscopy. There were no significant changes observed in the neck angle so that it was confirmed this treatment regimen preserved the head and neck situation without any considerable neck swelling. Weight-bearing in gait and trot was similar between both forelimbs at the end of the study. Mild to moderate adhesion was detected in the dorsal surface of the SDF tendon. There was no significant difference in the echogenicity and fiber alignment, respectively, on days 90 and 120 after surgery. Treatment significantly amplified the collagen diameter and enhanced the collagen fibril diameter and density considerably compared to the NL. The transplanted tissue was mostly in the remodeling or maturation phase, on day 120 postoperatively. It seems thatthe NL is biocompatible, almost biodegradable, and effective in tendon healing without metaplasia or tissue rejection.
Keywords
- Bertone AL, Stashak TS, Smith FW, et al. A comparison of repair methods for gap healing in equine flexor tendon. Vet Surg 1990; 19(4):254-265.
- Muttini A, Valbonetti L, Abate M, et al. Ovine amniotic epithelial cells: in vitro characterization and trans-plantation into equine superficial digital flexor tendon spontaneous defects. Res Vet Sci 2013; 94(1):158-169.
- Avella CS, Smith RKW. Diagnosis and management of tendon and ligament disorders. In: Auer J, Stick J, (Eds). Equine surgery. 4th ed. USA: Saunders 2012; 1157-1179.
- Moshiri A, Oryan A, Meimandi-Parizi A. Role of tissue-engineered artificial tendon in healing of a large Achilles tendon defect model in rabbits. J Am Coll Surg 2013; 217(3):421-441.
- Dehghani S, Varzandian, S. Biomechanical study of repair of tendon gap by bovine fetal tendon transplant in horse. J Anim V Adv 2007; 6(9):1097-1100.
- Oryan A, Sharifi P, Moshiri A, et al. The role of three-dimensional pure bovine gelatin scaffolds in tendon healing, modeling, and remodeling: an in vivo investigation with potential clinical value. Connect Tissue Res 2017; 58(5): 424-437.
- Jann HW, Hart JC, Stein LE, et al. The effects of a cross-linked, modified hyaluronic acid (xCMHA‐S) gel on equine tendon healing. Vet Surg 2016; 45(2):231-239.
- El-Shafaey El-SA, Karrouf GI, Zaghloul AE. Clinical and biomechanical evaluation of three bioscaffold augmentation devices used for superficial digital flexor tenorrhaphy in donkeys (Equus asinus): An experimental study. J Adv Res 2013; 4(1):103-113.
- Jahani S, Moslemi HR, Dehghan MM, et al. The effect of butyric acid with autogenous omental graft on healing of experimental Achilles tendon injury in rabbits. Iran J Vet Res 2015; 16(1):100-104.
- Chen J, Xu J, Wang A, et al. Scaffolds for tendon and ligament repair: review of the efficacy of commercial products. Expert Rev Med Devices 2009; 6(1):61-73.
- Gellman KS, Bertram JEA. The equine nuchal ligament. 1: Structural and material properties. Vet Comp Orthop Traumatol 2002; 15(1):1-6.
- Gellman KS, Bertram JEA. The equine nuchal ligament. 2: Passive dynamic energy exchange in locomotion. Vet Comp Orthop Traumatol Orthop 2002; 15(1):7-14.
- Parry DA, Craig AS, Barnes GR. Tendon and ligament from the horse: an ultrastructural study of collagen fibrils and elastic fibres as a function of age. Proc R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 1978; 203(1152):293-303.
- El-Shafaey El-SA, Karrouf GIA, Zaghloul AEI. A comparative study evaluating three bioscaffold augmentation devices used for superficial digital flexor tenorrhaphy in donkeys (Equus asinus) by magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasonography. J Equine Vet Sci 2012; 32(11):728-739.
- Butcher MT, Ashley-Ross MA. Fetlock joint kinematics differ with age in Thoroughbred racehorses. J Biomech 2002; 35(5):563-571.
- Dowling BA, Dart AJ, Hodgson DR, et al. The effect of recombinant equine growth hormone on the bio-mechanical properties of healing superficial digital flexor tendons in horses. Vet Surg 2002; 31(4):320-324.
- Moshiri A, Oryan A. Structural and functional modulation of early healing of full-thickness superficial digital flexor tendon rupture in rabbits by repeated subcutaneous administration of exogenous human recombinant basic fibroblast growth factor. J FootAnkle Surg 2011; 50(6):654-662.
- Birch HL. Tendon matrix composition and turnover in relation to functional requirements. Int J Exp Pathol 2007; 88(4):241-248.
- Dowling BA, Dart AJ, Hodgson DR, et al. Superficial digital flexor tendonitis in the horse. Equine Vet J 2000; 32(5):369-378.
- Patterson-Kane JC, Firth EC. The pathobiology of exercise-induced superficial digital flexor tendon injury in Thoroughbred racehorses. Vet J 2009; 181(2):79-89.
- Oryan A, Shoushtari AH. Histology and ultrastructure of the developing superficial digital flexor tendon in rabbits. Anat Histol Embryol 2008; 37(2):134-140.
- Oryan A, Shoushtari AH. Biomechanical properties and dry weight content of the developing superficial digital flexor tendon in rabbit. Comp Clin Path 2009; 18(2):131-137.
- Oryan A, Goodship AE, Silver IA. Response of a collagenase-induced tendon injury to treatment with a polysulphated glycosaminoglycan (Adequan). Connect Tissue Res 2008; 49(5):351-360.
- Valdés‐Vázquez MA, McCluer JR, Oliver 3rd JL, et al. Evaluation of an autologous tendon graft repair method for gap healing of the deep digital flexor tendon in horses. Vet Surg 1996; 25(4):342-350.
- van Schie HTM, Bakker EM, Cherdchutham W, et al. Monitoring of the repair process of surgically created lesions in equine superficial digital flexor tendons by use of computerized ultrasonography. Am J Vet Res 2009; 70(1):37-48.
- Oryan A, Moshiri A. A long term study on the role of exogenous human recombinant basic fibroblast growth factor on the superficial digital flexor tendon healing in rabbits. J Musculoskelet Neuronal Interact 2011; 11(2): 185-195.
- Oryan A, Moshiri A, Meimandi-Parizi AH. Short and long terms healing of the experimentally transverse sectioned tendon in rabbits. Sports Med Arthrosc Rehabil Ther Technol 2012; 4(1):14. doi: 10.1186/ 1758-2555-4-14.
)