Effectiveness of Autogenous L-PRF Membranes on Tendon Healing in A Rabbit Model

Introduction: Tendon injury is an important clinical issue for orthopedic surgeons. Tendon healing is a time-consuming process. This study aimed to investigate the effect of autologous Leukocyte-platelet-rich fibrin (L-PRF) on the healing of the superficial digital flexor tendon in a rabbit model. Method: Ten healthy adult rabbits of mixed breed were randomly divided into Treatment and Control groups. After cutting the superficial digital flexor tendon and suturing it, the autologous L-PRF membrane was applied locally in the Treated group. The tendon was sutured with the Bunnell-Mayer pattern with no material implantation in the Control group. Five animals from each group were euthanized, and their tendons were collected for histopathological evaluation on the ۳۰th day post-surgery. Result: In morphological examination, a smaller tendon diameter and more adhesion were seen in the Treated group. There were significant differences in the total number of cells, cell maturation, the ratio of cellularity to matrix, and the alignment and order of cells between the Treated and Control groups at the histopathological level. The Treated group showed superiority over the Control group in tissue order, collagen fiber crimp pattern, inflammation, and vascularity; however, these differences were not significant. Conclusion:  This study found that L-PRF has a beneficial effect on tendon healing. Due to the short treatment period, additional research and evaluations are necessary in this field.

کلیدواژه ها:

Leukocyte-platelet rich fibrin ، Tendon Injury ، Tissue engineering ، Tendon healing ، Rabbit