The use of growth factors on tendon injuries.

Tendon injuries continue to be a vexing clinical problem faced by the upper extremity surgeon. These injuries often lead to disability and dissatisfaction for both the patient and treating physician. Advances throughout the century have focused largely on improvements in surgical techniques and therapy protocols. Recently, attention has been turned to the biologic pathways by which tendons heal and the growth factors involved in this process have been identified. There is great hope that these growth factors may one day be used to treat tendon injuries. This article provides a summary of the use of growth factors on tendon injuries including contemporary research, delivery methods, and future directions in this field.