EFFECT OF HYLAN G-F 20 IN ACHILLES TENDONITIS: AN EXPERIMENTAL STUDY IN RATS

Background: Hylan G-F 20 may increase healing in the Achilles tendon because it has been shown to have positive effects in the healing of cutaneous wounds and in tendon adhesion formation.

Research question/s: Does local infiltration of Hylan G-F 20 reduce pathology scores in corticosteroid induced experimental Achilles’ tendonitis in rats?

Methodology:Animals: 18 male Wistar white rats (322−375g BW) with Achilles’ degeneration induced by local corticosteroid injections.

Experimental procedure: Rats were divided into four groups according to saline (left AT) or Hylan injections (right AT) and timing of analysis (61 days vs 75 days). Achilles tendon injections took place at 5-day intervals. The tendons and paratenons were excised at the end of 60 or 75 days and evaluated histopathologically.

Measures of outcome: Histopathological changes (score) (staining affinity, nuclear appearance, fibrillar appearance for tendon and thickness, occurrence of fibrosis and oedema, capillary changes, and inflammation for paratenon).

Main finding/s:

Hylan injected tendons and paratenons had significantly lower pathology scores after 75 days.

Conclusion/s: In an animal study, Hylan G-F 20 (Synvisc) injections (every 5 days for 30 days) reduced the pathology score following experimentally induced Achilles tendonitis in rats – this may be a …