The role of an octacalcium phosphate in the re-formation of infraspinatus tendon insertion.

BACKGROUND

To improve the success rate of rotator cuff repair, we investigated whether octacalcium phosphate (OCP) with gelatin (Gel) vehicle had a positive effect on tendon-to-bone healing.

METHODS

We assessed the histologic characteristics of the tendon-to-bone healing using the rabbit rotator cuff repair model. We divided the shoulders into 3 groups: control (without OCP/Gel composite), OCP/Gel composite (OCP+group), and Gel alone without OCP (Gel group) to evaluate the effectiveness of gelatin.

RESULTS

Both the number of newly formed tendon fibers and the Sharpey fibers at the repair site increased in the OCP+group compared with those in the other 2 groups on hematoxylin-eosin staining (P < .05). On immunohistochemical evaluation, both the bone and the fibers in the OCP+group demonstrated that type I collagen was picked up, whereas the newly formed tendon fibers and Sharpey fibers revealed type III collagen.

CONCLUSION

Treatment with OCP made collagen fibers and the Sharpey fibers, constituted by type I and type III collagens, increase at the tendon-to-bone insertion. It might be beneficial for the healing of rotator cuff tendon to bone.