Development of the shields for tendon injury repair using polyvinyl alcohol — hydrogel ( PVA‐H)

Abstract

In recent years, marked advances have been made in repair techniques for tendon injury, but the treatment of finger flexor tendon injury is still one of the most difficult and important problems in the orthopedic field. The main problem in tendon repair is adhesion between the tendon and surrounding tissue. To prevent this adhesion and achieve tendon union, we developed adhesion preventive shields for tendon repair using polyvinyl alcohol hydrogel ( PVA-H) with 90% water content, and carried out an implant experiment using the deep flexor tendon of the third toe of domestic fowl. Injured tendons shielded with PVA-H showed union at about 3 weeks after the operation without adhesion to the surrounding tissue and good function such as gliding and range of motion. Neither breakage of the PVA-H shield itself nor infection, nor degeneration in the surrounding tissue were observed. These results confirmed that the tendon itself has repair ability, and the tendon is regenerated by synovial nutrition through PVA-H. High water content PVA-H may have clinically potential and be applicable to adhesion-preventive shields for tendon repair. However, re-rupture was observed, probably due to accidental tendon injury at an early period after the operation. In some cases, tendon immobilization methods to prevent re-rupture might be necessary.

Radiation induced crosslinking effect on semi - interpenetrating polymer networks of poly(vinyl alcohol)

“…PVA films have high mechanical strength and long-term temperature stability [11]. These properties of PVA have to led their use in several biomedical and industrial applications including contact lenses [12], ophthalmic materials [13], tendon repair [14], as sorbents for dye wastes [15,16], as sensors [17] and drug delivery system [18]. Some chemical hydrogels based on PVA are well known in literature [19].…”

Development of Biomimetic Bearing with Hydrated Materials

“…One such material is polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) hydrogel, which is one of the few polymers with hydrophilic properties. It is anticipated to realize a wide range of clinical applications due to its high water-holding capacity and high biocompatibility [4]. However, a major problem with PVA hydrogel is its low wear resistance.…”

Reduced postoperative intra-abdominal adhesions using Carbylan-SX, a semisynthetic glycosaminoglycan hydrogel

“…Nonetheless, synthetic polymers are often used as barriers because these materials can be engineered to have better mechanical properties, be easier to handle in a clinical setting, contain fewer biological contaminants, and be less immunogenic. Synthetic polymers include nonabsorbable silicone and polytetrafluoroethylene materials, bioresorbable cellulose, polyvinyl alcohol, and polyester derivatives (1,(7)(8)(9)(10). Although the nonabsorbable membranes can effectively isolate an injured site from adjacent tissues, the membranes must be removed by laparoscopy removal after the injury has healed.…”