Re-attachment of a Tendon to the Calcified Fibrocartilage Layer

抄録

The advantage of repairing a ruptured rotator cuff tendon to the original insertion is that it provides an ideal site of ideal site of tendon attachment for the rotator cuff to stabilize the humeral head effectively. This canine histologic study disclosed the healing process at the bone-tendon interface of a repaired rotator cuff tendon attached to the surface of the calcified fibrocartilage. The left infraspinatus tendons of six mongrel dogs were transected and repaired. Specimens were harvested at 3,6,12, and 16 postop erative weeks. Histologic specimens were treated with H&E stain and were viewed with polarized light. In the 3rd postoperative week, the fibrous did not attach to the surface of the calcified fibrocartilage. In the 6th postoperative week, the connection was still sparse. In the 12th postoperative week, collagen fibers in the interface attached to the surface of the calcified fibrocartilage without penetration. In the 16th postoperative week, collagen fibers had attached securely to the surface of the calcified fibrocartilage. The results of this study demonstrated healing of a tendon re-attached to a calcified fibrocartilage surface, indicating that collagen fibers do not seen to connect securely until the 16th postoperative week.