Abstract:

Tendon injuries are an increasing problem in orthopedics as we are faced with a growing demand in sports and recreation and an aging population. Tendons have poor spontaneous regenerative capacity, and often, complete recovery after injury is not achieved. Once injured, tendons do not completely re-acquire the biological and biomechanical properties of normal tendons due to the formation of adhesions and scarring, and often these abnormalities in the arrangement and structure are risk factors for re-injury. These problems associated with the healing of tendon injuries are a challenge for clinicians and surgeons. This study examined 9 cases of subcutaneous injuries including quadriceps tendon (2 cases), patellar tendon (1 case), and Achilles tendon (6 cases), incomplete and complete, treated consecutively. The surgical technique has provided, as appropriate, the termino-terminal tenorraphy, techniques of plastics of rotation flap, reinsertion with suture anchors, and in one case tendon augmentation with cadaver tissue. In cases where we needed mechanical support to the suture, we used preloaded growth factors on porcine collagen scaffold; in cases where we needed only one biological support, we used fibrin scaffold.

Authors:

Stefano Giannotti, MD, Specialist in Orthopedics and Traumatology, Giacomo Dell’Osso, MD, Specialist in Orthopedics and Traumatology, Vanna Bottai, MD, Specialist in Orthopedics and Traumatology, Marco Ghilardi, MD, Specialist in Orthopedics and Traumatology, Giulia Bugelli, MD, Resident in Orthopedics and Traumatology, Ilaria Lazzerini, MD, Resident in Orthopedics and Traumatology, Giulio Guido, MD, PhD, Ordinary Professor of Orthopedics and Traumatology, IInd Orthopaedic and Traumatologic Clinic, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy

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