The human body “is full of muscles and moving parts,” the researchers write, “and is far from indestructible.” Injuries are common, especially where tendons and bones connect. It is estimated that tears or ruptures of the rotator cuff affect approximately 1 in 4 people over 50 in rich countries, and that even after surgery,
approximately 20% of cases are followed by new tears.
There is therefore a growing need, particularly with aging populations, to strengthen current clinical practices and find new treatment methods to combat these recurrences.
The Japanese team had previously reported positive results on the use of non-thermal atmospheric pressure plasma for bone and tendon repairs.
The study currently uses plasma again on the rotator cuffs of animal models, and evaluates the speed of healing. The researchers evaluated this delay in a group of control animals and a group irradiated with plasma for 5 minutes: in these models, the rotator cuffs were detached, irradiated, then sutured. The researchers assessed the mechanical strength of the tendons at intervals of 2, 4 and 8 weeks. Experience confirms that:
- the intervention group found a tissue arrangement similar to that of uninjured models, at 5 to 8 weeks;
- in this irradiation group, more bone tissue regenerated;
- biomechanical testing confirms that the force required to rupture the plasma-irradiated rotator cuff after 8 weeks is similar to that required in models with an intact cuff.
This will involve adapting these results to current clinical practices and “it may be possible to contribute to more reliable rotator cuff repairs and a reduction in the rate of new tears”conclude the researchers.
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