The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of long-standing exercise on the :repair of injured tendon and prevention of adhesion with tendon sheath and epitenon.
The experiment was carried out with 64 rabbits which were operated by the following procedure. The 2nd deep flexor tendon of hindpaw of each rabbit was exposed through longitudinal incision of skin, subcutaneous and tendon sheath. The exposed tendon was .severed by 1/3 of the width of tendon including its epitenon. In group I, only the incised tendon sheath was sutured with 7-0 silk under the microscopic procedure. In group II , the incised tendon sheath was sutured with 7-0 silk and the edges of severed tendon ends including epitenon with 4-0 silk. All the operated limbs were left free to mobilize. Furthermore, early active exercise was allowed for a long period and the severed tendons -were examined at postoperative 1, 2, 3, 4,16, 24, 32, and 40 weeks respectively.
The results obtained were as follows:
1. Grossly, hemorrhage, inflammatory reaction, and adhesion between tendon and -tendon sheath were mainly observed during the first two weeks and were severer in group R.
2. Microscopically, inflammatory reaction of tendon sheath and tendon adhesion were
observed during the first three weeks only and were also severer in group H .
3. The proliferation of tenocytes and capillary blood vessels and the disarrangement of
tenocytes at the severed ends of tendon were lasted longer in group ff than in group I.
4. The inflammatory reaction and tendon adhesion were almost not observed after
postoperative 16 weeks and no differences were noted between group I and group R grossly
.and microscopically.
The above findings leads to the following conclusion that long-standing active exercise after tendon injury helps regeneration of the injured tendon and prevents fvom adhesion Zetween the tendon sheath and the epitenon.
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