Effect of radiofrequency microtenotomy on degeneration of tendons: an experimental study on rabbits.

PAPER pubmed Foot and ankle surgery : official journal of the European Society of Foot and Ankle Surgeons 2014 Animal study Effect: mixed Evidence: Low

Read original paper → DOI: 10.1016/j.fas.2013.11.003 PMID: 24480503 Evidence Lab

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Radiofrequency microtenotomy is used to enhance healing by increasing vascularity in the degenerated tendon. In the present study, the effect of radiofrequency microtenotomy (Rf-mt) treatment on tendon degeneration was investigated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 32 New Zealand rabbits were enrolled in the current study. Experimental degeneration was performed by injecting prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) into the bilateral Achilles tendons of rabbits. After excluding 4 rabbits with an infection on the injection site, 4 other rabbits were sacrificed to define the histopathologic changes in the tendons. The remaining 24 rabbits were divided into 2 groups: the control group and the Rf-mt group. In the control group, the Rf-mt device was only applied to the Achilles tendon without running the device. In the Rf-mt group, the Rf-mt device was applied bilaterally at the fourth energy level for 500ms to an area within 2cm proximal to the insertion site at 0.5cm intervals in order to form a grid. Six rabbits from each group were sacrificed at 6 and 12 weeks. The Achilles tendons were evaluated histopathologically by a modified Movin scale and by immunohistopathologic staining for vascular endothelial growth factor and type 4 collagen. RESULTS: After the PGE1 injection, findings similar to chronic degenerative tendinopathy were observed. The Rf-mt group showed significant improvement in vascularity in the histopathological and immunohistochemical examination (P<0.05). However, there was no significant difference in healing between the control and Rf-mt groups (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Rf-mt treatment increases vascularity in degenerated tendons but does not create difference to facilitate the healing process comparing control group.

AI evidence extraction

At a glance

Study type

Animal study

Effect direction

mixed

Population

New Zealand rabbits with experimentally induced Achilles tendon degeneration (PGE1 injection)

Sample size

Exposure

radiofrequency microtenotomy device · 500 ms applications (grid within 2 cm proximal to insertion, 0.5 cm intervals); follow-up at 6 and 12 weeks

Evidence strength

Low

Confidence: 74% · Peer-reviewed: yes

Main findings

After PGE1 injection, tendons showed changes consistent with chronic degenerative tendinopathy. The radiofrequency microtenotomy group had significantly improved vascularity on histopathologic and immunohistochemical examination (P<0.05), but there was no significant difference in healing between control and radiofrequency microtenotomy groups (P>0.05).

Outcomes measured

Histopathologic tendon degeneration/healing (modified Movin scale)
Vascularity
VEGF immunostaining
Type IV collagen immunostaining

Limitations

Radiofrequency exposure parameters (e.g., frequency, power, SAR) not reported in abstract
Animal model with experimentally induced tendinopathy; generalizability to humans unclear
Control involved device application without running; blinding and randomization not described in abstract
Small group sizes at each time point (6 rabbits per group at 6 and 12 weeks)

View raw extracted JSON

{
    "study_type": "animal",
    "exposure": {
        "band": null,
        "source": "radiofrequency microtenotomy device",
        "frequency_mhz": null,
        "sar_wkg": null,
        "duration": "500 ms applications (grid within 2 cm proximal to insertion, 0.5 cm intervals); follow-up at 6 and 12 weeks"
    },
    "population": "New Zealand rabbits with experimentally induced Achilles tendon degeneration (PGE1 injection)",
    "sample_size": 32,
    "outcomes": [
        "Histopathologic tendon degeneration/healing (modified Movin scale)",
        "Vascularity",
        "VEGF immunostaining",
        "Type IV collagen immunostaining"
    ],
    "main_findings": "After PGE1 injection, tendons showed changes consistent with chronic degenerative tendinopathy. The radiofrequency microtenotomy group had significantly improved vascularity on histopathologic and immunohistochemical examination (P<0.05), but there was no significant difference in healing between control and radiofrequency microtenotomy groups (P>0.05).",
    "effect_direction": "mixed",
    "limitations": [
        "Radiofrequency exposure parameters (e.g., frequency, power, SAR) not reported in abstract",
        "Animal model with experimentally induced tendinopathy; generalizability to humans unclear",
        "Control involved device application without running; blinding and randomization not described in abstract",
        "Small group sizes at each time point (6 rabbits per group at 6 and 12 weeks)"
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "low",
    "confidence": 0.7399999999999999911182158029987476766109466552734375,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "radiofrequency microtenotomy",
        "Achilles tendon",
        "tendinopathy",
        "rabbit",
        "vascularity",
        "VEGF",
        "type IV collagen",
        "Movin scale"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": []
}

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AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract/metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This content is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice.

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