Sodium hyaluronate reduce adhesions after tendon repair in rodents and dogs, and has been no reports in people. To evaluate its effect on tendon healing in horses and to compare It with compound of similar viscoelastic properties, a study was performed on 8 horses, using a model of ZigZag splitting injury in DDFT. Eight clinically normal horses were randomly divided into 2 groups under general anaesthesia tendon splitting was performed in ZigZag form in DDFT in one forelimb in all horses. Ulterasonographic examination after tendon splitting was performed and confirmed the same injuries in all tendons. Group A horses had sodium hyaluronate (NaH) gel (10mg /ml) into the site of injury every other days for five successive days. Group B horses had methylcellulose
(MeS) gel Injection at the same site. Serial ultrasonographic
examination was perfomed In 2 groups at 7, 14, 21, 28 and 60
days after last intralesional Injection. Horses were euthanatized
after 14 weeks of stall rest Ultrasonographic evaluation revealed
Improved tendon healing after NaH injection (P < 0.05).
Histologically, the DDFT from the Nail treated limbs had reduced
inflammatoiy cells Infiltration, Improved tendon structure and less
intertendinous hemorrhage, treatment with MeS had no significant
effect on tendon healing. Sodium hyaluronate, administered
intralesionally appears to have a pharmacuetically beneficial action
in this model of tendonitis.
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