BACKGROUND: Patients undergoing intrasound therapy are often concurrently on NSAIDs. The effect of varied intensities of intrasound therapy with NSAIDs on tendon healing is yet to be determined. OBJECTIVE: The study investigated the effects of a concurrent admistration of low and high intensity intrasound therapy (LIRT&HIRT) with indomethacin (Indocid) on the morphology of the tendon in the early stage of healing. METHODS: Thirty five male rats were divided randomly into seven groups; groups 2-6 underwent an induced crush injury. Group 1, nil injury and nil treatment. Group 2: injury but nil treatment. Group 3: Indomethacin only. Group 4: LIRT only, Group 5: Indocidand LIRT, Group 6: HIRT, Group 7: Indocid and HIRT. Intrasound therapy (IRT) commenced 24 hours post-injury and was given alternate days for the first 10 days post injury. Indocid was given at a dosage of 0.4 mg/kg body weight daily. On the 11 day post injury, the animals were sacrificed and the tendons excised and processed for histological study. RESULTS: Indocid significantly (p < 0.05) reduced the tenocyte population when combined with LIRT but marginally increased it when combined with HIRT (p > 0.05). There was significant difference in the tenocyte population between the combined Indocid and LIRT and the combined Indocid and HIRT groups (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: High intensity intrasound given concurrently with oral indomethacin resulted in tenoblast proliferation and promoted healing in the injured tendon.
BACKGROUND:Patients undergoing intrasound therapy are often concurrently on NSAIDs. The effect of varied intensities of intrasound therapy with NSAIDs on tendon healing is yet to be determined. OBJECTIVE: The study investigated the effects of a concurrent admistration of low and high intensity intrasound therapy (LIRT&HIRT) with indomethacin (Indocid) on the morphology of the tendon in the early stage of healing. METHODS: Thirty five male rats were divided randomly into seven groups; groups 2-6 underwent an induced crush injury. Group 1, nil injury and nil treatment. Group 2: injury but nil treatment. Group 3: Indomethacin only. Group 4: LIRT only, Group 5: Indocidand LIRT, Group 6: HIRT, Group 7: Indocid and HIRT. Intrasound therapy (IRT) commenced 24 hours post-injury and was given alternate days for the first 10 days post injury. Indocid was given at a dosage of 0.4 mg/kg body weight daily. On the 11 day post injury, the animals were sacrificed and the tendons excised and processed for histological study. RESULTS:Indocid significantly (p < 0.05) reduced the tenocyte population when combined with LIRT but marginally increased it when combined with HIRT (p > 0.05). There was significant difference in the tenocyte population between the combined Indocid and LIRT and the combined Indocid and HIRT groups (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: High intensity intrasound given concurrently with oral indomethacin resulted in tenoblast proliferation and promoted healing in the injured tendon.