Kahramanmaraş Pazarcık Devlet Hastanesi Ortopedi ve Travmatoloji Kliniği, 46700 Pazarcık, Kahramanmaraş, Türkiye.
Jt Dis Relat Surg. 2023;34(1):84-91. doi: 10.52312/jdrs.2023.853. Epub 2022 Dec 27.
In this experimental study, we aimed to analyze the effects of levocarnitine (L-carnitine) on tendon healing after surgical repair of Achilles tendon rupture in a rat model.
The study included 40 Wistar Albino rats divided into four groups: Group 1, neither surgical intervention nor substance applications were performed for the Achilles tendons. In the other groups, the right Achilles tendons were cut using a scalpel and repaired with a modified Kessler-type technique with 3/0 monofilament polydioxanone suture. In Group 2, the rats did not receive any additional treatment, except for surgical repair. In Group 3, the same volume similar to Group 4 of saline solution was administered intraperitoneally for seven days. In Group 4, each rat received 300 mg/kg of L-carnitine intraperitoneally for seven days. At Week 6, all rats were sacrificed. All right Achilles tendons were used for biomechanical tests and histopathological evaluations. Biochemical analysis of the matrix metalloproteinase was also performed using the blood specimens.
There were no significant differences among the groups in terms of the histopathological parameters. Although the mean matrix metalloproteinase level was low in the L-carnitine group, it did not reach statistical significance. A significant increase in maximum force, tensile strength, and strength to 2-mm gap was observed in the L-carnitine group.
The significant effects of L-carnitine on biomechanical parameters may indicate favorable effects on Achilles tendon healing in rats by reducing matrix metalloproteinase 2 and 9. To improve Achilles tendon healing, further investigation for these markers is needed. Since the effects of L-carnitine on the Achilles tendon cannot be clearly distinguished histopathologically, further studies involving L-carnitine-induced effects are warranted.
在这项实验研究中，我们旨在分析左卡尼汀（左旋肉碱）对大鼠跟腱断裂手术修复后腱愈合的影响。
该研究纳入了 40 只 Wistar 白化大鼠，分为四组：第 1 组，跟腱既未接受手术干预也未使用任何药物。在其他组中，使用手术刀切断右侧跟腱，并采用改良的 Kessler 型技术用 3/0 单丝聚二氧六环酮缝线修复。第 2 组除手术修复外未接受任何其他治疗。第 3 组，连续 7 天每天给大鼠腹腔内注射等体积生理盐水。第 4 组，连续 7 天每天给每只大鼠腹腔内注射 300mg/kg 的左卡尼汀。第 6 周，处死所有大鼠。所有右侧跟腱均用于生物力学测试和组织病理学评估。还使用血液标本进行基质金属蛋白酶的生化分析。
在组织病理学参数方面，各组之间无显著差异。尽管左卡尼汀组基质金属蛋白酶水平较低，但无统计学意义。左卡尼汀组的最大力、拉伸强度和 2mm 间隙强度显著增加。
左卡尼汀对生物力学参数的显著影响可能表明其通过降低基质金属蛋白酶 2 和 9 对大鼠跟腱愈合有有利影响。为了改善跟腱愈合，需要对这些标志物进行进一步研究。由于左卡尼汀对跟腱的影响在组织病理学上无法明确区分，因此需要进一步研究左卡尼汀的诱导作用。
