Effect of cucurbitacin e on adhesion formation following tendon repair

Hand is amongst the most frequently used part of our body in our daily life. Therefore hand trauma is very common. Fingers are the most affected part in upper extremity injuries and tendon injuries are present in a significant amount of those injuries. In such injuries tendon repair should be done as soon as possible and measures should be taken to prevent possible postoperative adhesions. Thirty six Lohmann Brown chickens were used in the study. Two fingers of the same extremity (third and fourth) were chosen and 72 toes were operated. Tendons were only exposed and tendon sheath was cut in Group I (sham group). Tendons were cut and repaired in Group II (control group). Dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) was injected to the surrounding tissue of the repaired tendon in Group III. Cucurbitacin E dissolved in DMSO was injected to the surrounding tissue of the repaired tendon in Group IV. Chickens were sacrificed on postoperative day 21. Histopathological and biomechanical examinations were done. As a result of the examinations there were less adhesions in Group IV and it was statistically significant (p<0.05). Most adhesions were observed in Group II and III. Tensile strength was significantly lower in both Group III and Group IV (p<0.05). According to these results DMSO and Cucurbitacin E injection are found to decrease the postoperative adhesions following tendon repair. We think that future experimental and clinical studies, will support the results of our study and Cucurbitacin E could be used to prevent tendon adhesions.