Effect of hylan G-F 20 in achilles’ tendonitis: An experimental study in rats

Abstract

Tatari H, Skiak E, Destan H, UlukuşÇ, Özer E, Satoğlu S. Effect of hylan G-F 20 in Achilles’ tendonitis: an experimental study in rats. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2004;85:1470–4. Objective To investigate the local effects of hylan G-F 20 on locally administered corticosteroid-induced experimental Achilles’ tendonitis. Design Before-after trial. Setting Institutional practice. Animals Convenience sample of 18 male Wistar white rats (weight range, 322–375g). Interventions After performing Achilles’ degeneration with local corticosteroid injections, the rats were divided into 4 groups. The right Achilles’ tendon of the rats served as the hylan injection group and the left tendon as the control group, which was injected with saline at 5-day intervals. The tendons and paratenons were excised at the end of 60 or 75 days and evaluated histopathologically and statistically. Main outcome measure Histopathologic changes, including staining affinity, nuclear appearance, fibrillar appearance for tendon and thickness, occurrence of fibrosis and edema, capillary changes, and inflammation for paratenon, were assessed according to a semiquantitative scoring system. The Mann-Whitney U test was used for statistical analysis, with a P value of .05 or less considered statistically significant. Results Semiquantitative scoring of histopathologic changes showed that histologic appearances differed between the hylan and saline groups and between 2 hylan groups. Hylan-injected tendons and paratenons demonstrated significantly lower scores, especially after 75 days. Conclusions Hylan G-F 20 has a promising curative effect on the tendon and paratenon and can be used in Achilles’ tendonitis. This finding should be supported by biomechanical and biochemical studies.