Acessibilidade / Reportar erro

Tensiometric evaluation of the effect of lowfrequency electric stimulation on healing Achilles tendons in rats1 1 Research performed at Laboratory of the Discipline of Surgical Technique and Experimental Surgery, Department of Surgery, Universidade Federal do Paraná (UFPR), Curitiba-PR, Brazil. Part of Master degree thesis, Postgraduate Program in Surgical Clinic. Tutor: Prof. Maria de Lourdes Pessole Biondo-Simões.

Abstract

Purpose:

To evaluate the effects of low-frequency electric stimulation on biomechanics following surgical treatment of the Achilles tendon in rats.

Methods:

Forty-two rats were divided into two groups. One was given electric stimulation and the other was not. All were submitted to Achilles tenotomy and tenorrhaphy performed with a modified Kessler stitch. The experiment group underwent electric stimulation with 2 Hz, a nonpolarized current of 1 mA intensity for 14 days. The animals were euthanized at 2, 4 and 6 weeks for the biomechanical study.

Results:

The work performed, that is, the tendon’s capacity to absorb energy until rupture, was greater in the electrically stimulated group in the 2nd (p = 0.032) and in the 6th week (p = 0.010). The maximum tension, which is the capacity to support a load, was higher in the treated group in the 2nd (p = 0.030) and the 6th week (p = 024). These results indicate greater resistance of the electrically stimulated tendons. An analysis of the elastic module showed no differences.

Conclusion:

Low-frequency electric stimulation increased the resistance of the tendons at 2 and 6 weeks of evolution in rats.

Key words
Electric Stimulation; Achilles Tendon; Wound Healing; Biomechanical Phenomena; Rats

Sociedade Brasileira para o Desenvolvimento da Pesquisa em Cirurgia https://actacirbras.com.br/ - São Paulo - SP - Brazil
E-mail: actacirbras@gmail.com