Potential effect of Platelet Rich Fibrin and Chitosan on healing of surgically induced lacerated superficial digital flexor tendon in donkeys

Hussien, Mahmoud; Samy, Alaa; Rizk, Awad; EL-Henawey, Mohamed; Karrouf, Gamal

Potential effect of Platelet Rich Fibrin and Chitosan on healing of surgically induced lacerated superficial digital flexor tendon in donkeys

Document Type : Original Articles

Authors

¹ surgery, anesthesiology and radiology department, faculty of veterinary medicine, Mansoura university, Mansoura, Egypt

² Department of Surgery, Anesthesiology and Radiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine , Mansoura University, Mansoura 35516, Egypt

³ Surgery department, Veterinary medicine faculty, mansoura university

⁴ Physics department, faculty of science, Mansoura university, Egypt

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the effects of platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) and chitosan (Ch) on the healing of superficial flexor tendon defects in a donkey model.
Design: A randomized experimental study.
Animals: Eighteen clinically healthy male donkeys aged 24.5± 3.4 months old and weighing 126.5 ± 12.1 kg body weight (BW). A full thickness defect of the superficial flexor tendon (SDFT) was performed at the mid metatarsus, tenorrhaphy was performed using bunnel suture pattern leaving a 1cm defect. These animals were allocated into three groups (6 animals/each). Group I (control group): no biomaterials were added; Group II (PRF group): the SDFT gap was filled with autogenous PRF; Group III (PRF/Ch group): a combination of autogenous PRF and chitosan were used to fill the SDFT gap. Ultrasonographic examinations was carried out at 1, 2 and 3 months postoperatively, imaging characteristics were compared at each time point.
Results: In PRF and PRF/Ch groups showed significant (P>0.00) improvement of the tendon echogenicity, fiber alignment and thickness compared to control group. In PRF and PRF/Ch treated groups, SDFT showed a well-formed and oriented tendon fiber with normal thickness and normal crescent shape.
Conclusion and clinical relevance: on the bases of the tendon echogenicity, fiber alignment, shape, position, and thickness, PRF and chitosan can improve tendon healing and could provide a new bioscaffold-based strategy for SDFT regeneration in donkeys.

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