RT Journal
A1 Benson, Leon S.
T1 Commentary on an article by Stavros Thomopoulos, PhD, et al.: “The Effects of Exogenous Basic Fibroblast Growth Factor on Intrasynovial Flexor Tendon Healing in a Canine Model”
JF The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery
JO The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery
YR 2010
FD October 6
VO 92
IS 13
SP e21 1
OP 2
DO 10.2106/JBJS.J.00939
UL http://dx.doi.org/10.2106/JBJS.J.00939
AB 
The goal of this study was to determine whether or not there is an improvement in the healing of flexor tendon repairs by exposing the repair site to basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF). The study involved a canine model in which intrasynovial flexor tendons were experimentally transected, exposed to a dose of bFGF, and then repaired with suture. Three tendon groups were studied: a group exposed to a lower dose of bFGF (500 ng), a group exposed to a higher dose of bFGF (1000 ng), and a control group of tendon repairs, which were exposed to no bFGF. The bFGF was delivered by implanting within the tendon repair site a fibrin matrix that contained a heparin-based delivery system capable of delivering bFGF in a controlled manner over a ten-day period. Examination of the flexor tendon repair sites after twenty-one days was performed both with histological and mechanical analysis. The investigators found that the lower dose of bFGF (500 ng) created an observable increase in biologic activity at the repair site but that the effect was too small to have any effect on the mechanical strength of repair. The higher dose of bFGF (1000 ng) had a marked increase in biologic activity at the repair site, but also did not produce any improvement of repair strength. Furthermore, the higher dose of bFGF actually caused a reduction in digital range of motion due to increased adhesions between the repaired tendon and the intrasynovial sheath.