Impaired tensile strength after shock-wave application in an animal model of tendon calcification

• Published in: Ultrasound in medicine & biology Vol. 27; no. 5; pp. 665 - 671
• Main Authors: Maier, Markus, Saisu, Takashi, Beckmann, Johannes, Delius, Michael, Grimm, Fritz, Hupertz, Verena, Milz, Stefan, Nerlich, Andreas, Refior, Hans Juergen, Schmitz, Christoph, Ueberle, Friedrich, Weiler, Christoph, Messmer, Konrad
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier Inc 01.05.2001; Elsevier
• Subjects: Animal model; Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Calcinosis - diagnostic imaging; Calcinosis - pathology; Calcinosis - therapy; Disease Models, Animal; Diseases of the osteoarticular system; Diseases of the osteoarticular system. Orthopedic treatment; Male; Medical sciences; Microradiography; Miscellaneous. Osteoarticular involvement in other diseases; Radiotherapy. Instrumental treatment. Physiotherapy. Reeducation. Rehabilitation, orthophony, crenotherapy. Diet therapy and various other treatments (general aspects); Rotator cuff calcification; Shock wave; Shock waves; Tendon calcification; Tendon ossification; Tendons; Tendons - diagnostic imaging; Tendons - pathology; Tensile strength; Tensile Strength - radiation effects; Turkey; Turkeys; Ultrasonic Therapy - adverse effects; Ultrasonography; Animal model; Tendon calcification; Microradiography; Turkey; Rotator cuff calcification; Tendon ossification; Shock wave; Postoperative; Evaluation; Treatment efficiency; Diseases of the osteoarticular system; Ultrasonic treatment; Experimental study; Tensile strength; Animal; Mechanical characteristic; Calcification; Complication; Upper limb; Rotator cuff; Tendon
• ISSN: 0301-5629; 1879-291X
• DOI: 10.1016/S0301-5629(01)00348-9

Extracorporeal shock-wave application facilitates dissolution of rotator cuff calcifications. Therefore, disappearance or disintegration of tendon calcifications by shock waves might be appropriate for any kind of tendon calcification. Here, shock waves with various energy flux densities were applied to the mineralized medial gastrocnemius tendon of turkeys as an animal model. After application of shock waves in vivo, with energy flux density of 0.6 mJ/mm 2, histologic examination and microradiography did not show dissolution or disintegration of tendon calcifications. After shock-wave application in vitro, even for energy flux density of 1.2 mJ/mm 2 neither dissolution nor disintegration of tendon calcifications were observed. Biomechanical testing revealed significant impairment of tensile strength following shock-wave application in vitro, with energy flux density of 1.2 mJ/mm 2, but not with 0.6 mJ/mm 2. These results are important for considerations of clinical extracorporeal shock-wave application on tendon calcifications, as well as on tendon ossifications. (E-mail:markus.maier@ort.med.uni-muenchen.de)