The effect of papaverine on tendon healing and adhesion in rats following Achilles tendon repair.

OBJECTIVES: The study aimed to examine the histopathological and biomechanical effects of papaverine administered intraperitoneally and locally on Achilles tendon healing in a rat model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-eight adult male Sprague-Dawley rats (range, 300 to 400 g) were used in this study conducted between October and November 2022. The rats were divided into three groups, with each group further subdivided into two for sacrifice on either the 15th (early period) or 30th (late period) day after surgery. The first (control) group received no treatment following Achilles tendon repair, while papaverine was intraperitoneally administered every other day for 10 days in the second group and locally in the third group after surgery. On the 15th and 30th days, the rats were sacrificed, and their Achilles tendons were subjected to biomechanical testing and histopathological evaluation. RESULTS: Histopathologically, there were no significant differences among the groups on the 15th day. However, on the 30th day, the locally applied papaverine group exhibited superior histopathological outcomes compared to the control group (p<0.05). Concerning the highest tensile strength values before rupture, the biomechanical assessment showed that the group receiving local papaverine treatment in the early period and both the group with systemic papaverine treatment and the one with local papaverine treatment in the late period displayed a statistically significant advantage compared to the control group (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Locally administered papaverine has positive biomechanical effects in the early period and exhibits a positive correlation both histopathologically and biomechanically in the late period. Novel therapeutic options may be provided for patients through these findings.

Histopathological and histomorphometric investigation of the effects of different irrigation solutions on Achilles tendon healing in rats.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to examine the effect of irrigation fluids containing povidone-iodine (PVP-I), rifampicin (RF), and chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) used during surgery on healing on a rat Achilles tendon model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-eight male Sprague-Dawley rats (range, 300 to 400 g) were used in the experiment carried out between November 2022 and December 2022. The rats were divided into PVP-I, RF, CHG, and control groups, with seven rats in each group. Following the tenotomy and repair of the right Achilles tendon, the surgical site was irrigated using PVP-I, RF, CHG, or normal saline (the control group) for 2 min. All rats were sacrificed on the 21st postoperative day. The samples were evaluated histomorphometrically using the scoring system modified by Svensson, Soslowsky, and Cook and histopathologically using the Bonar and Movin classifications. RESULTS: The RF group gave better results in all three scoring systems compared to the control, PVP-I, and CHG groups (p=0.008, p=0.002, and p=0.006, respectively). Cellularity, rounding, and tenocyte morphology showed a significant difference in favor of the RF group (p=0.004). While the distribution of ground substance glycosaminoglycans showed a significant difference in favor of the RF group, there was no significant difference among the other groups (p=0.22). CONCLUSION: Irrigation solutions containing PVP-I, RF, or CHG show no negative effect on Achilles tendon healing. Moreover, the findings suggest that RF irrigation can accelerate the healing process.

Plantar Dislocation of the Middle Cuneiform Bone With Medial Cuneiform Subluxation: A Case Report.

The middle cuneiform is the keystone of the transverse arch and is located between the medial cuneiform and lateral cuneiforms. Isolated middle cuneiform plantar dislocations are rare injuries due to their shape and ligamentous structural connections. A 20-year-old female patient was admitted to the emergency service of another clinic after a 70 kg iron tractor piece fell on her foot 20 days before she was referred to our clinic. Conservative treatment with a short leg circular cast was applied, considering that there was a fracture in the cuneiforms on X-ray imaging. The patient, who was re-evaluated at the second-week follow-up, was referred to our hospital considering the complex injury of the cuneiforms. There was tenderness over the cuneiform in the physical examination. X-ray and computed tomography images of the patient revealed plantar dislocation of the middle cuneiform bone. with subluxation of the medial cuneiform. Open reduction and internal fixation were performed for the middle cuneiform. During the six-month follow-up, the patient had no complaints and was able to do routine work. No lucency or arthritic changes were observed in the X-ray at the 22-month control. Plantar middle cuneiform dislocations are rare and late diagnosis can lead to poor results. This case is presented to emphasize the importance of considering this rare injury and using advanced imaging studies when necessary, considering the mechanism of injury.

How Many Bundles Does the Anterior Cruciate Ligament Consist of? A Case Report.

In some cases with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, physical examination and magnetic resolution imaging cannot clearly identify whether the ACL is intact or partially or completely ruptured. A 40-year-old female patient was admitted to our clinic with complaints of knee pain. After the requested examinations, we could not clearly identify whether the ACL was intact or partially or completely ruptured. Arthroscopic knee surgery was planned for the patient. In diagnostic arthroscopy, it was also determined that there was a multibundle ACL that was not surrounded by the synovium and was tight in the figure 4 position. The surgery was completed by repairing the meniscal tear. It was seen in the current case report that the ACL was a multibundle structure without overlying synovium around. In such cases, it is difficult to evaluate the ACL, and it should be kept in mind that there may also be variations of the ACL.

Axillary nerve course and position in the fetal period. An anatomic dissection study for surgical practice.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the fetal axillary nerve to reveal and compare its morphometric features within the second and third trimester. METHODS: This study was conducted at the Anatomy Department, School of Medicine, Mersin University, Mersin, Turkey. Thirty-five fetal shoulders were studied to provide anatomic data and to describe its position with regard to certain landmarks around the shoulder. RESULTS: The shortest distance between the axillary nerve and the glenoid labrum was found 2.27 mm and 2.89 mm in the second and third trimester fetuses, respectively. The shortest distances between the anterior and posterior acromial tips and the axillary nerve were also measured and were used with arm length measurements to define the anterior and posterior indexes. CONCLUSION: The indexes show that the distance between the axillary nerve and the anterior/posterior acromial tips are approximately one-fourth of the arm length in both the second and third trimester fetuses. The data presented in this study will be of use to surgeons, particularly to pediatric and orthopedic surgeons who will undertake surgical procedures in the axilla and arm in the newborn or early childhood.