Effects on bone union and prevention of tendon adhesion by new porous anti-adhesive poly L-lactide-co-ε-caprolactone membrane in a rabbit model.

To prevent adhesion between the tendon and the plate in hand surgery, a porous poly L-lactide-co-ε-caprolactone (P(LA/CL)) membrane was developed as a biologically absorbable anti-adhesion material. Our study aims to confirm the efficacy of this new P(LA/CL) membrane and its influences on the osteotomy site by performing a fundamental experiment assessing the possibility of clinical application. We prepared a rabbit model of tendon-plate adhesion, and evaluated the efficacy of the P(LA/CL) membrane to pullout tendon strength, to be scored in terms of macroscopic, pathological results. Another rabbit model of osteotomy was prepared to confirm the P(LA/CL) membrane influences on bone union by radiological, mechanical and pathological evaluation. The result showed to be significantly lower adhesion in the P(LA/CL) membrane group than in the control group. Also there were no differences between the P(LA/CL) membrane group and control group in the results for bone union.