Feng Gao1, Jingbin Zhou1, Chen He1, Jie Ding1, Zhikun Lou1, Qiang Xie1, Haiwei Li2, Fangxiang Li3, Guoping Li4. 1. Department of Sports Injury and Arthroscopy Surgery, China National Institute of Sports Medicine, Beijing, China. 2. School of Physical Education, Shanxi Normal University, Linfen, China. 3. Department of Sports Injury and Arthroscopy Surgery, China National Institute of Sports Medicine, Beijing, China. Electronic address: fangxiangli321@yeah.net. 4. Department of Sports Injury and Arthroscopy Surgery, China National Institute of Sports Medicine, Beijing, China. Electronic address: ligp@263.net.
Abstract
PURPOSE: To investigate the morphology and quantity of mechanoreceptors in the remnant stumps of injured anterior cruciate ligaments (ACLs) and the association of the number of mechanoreceptors with the time from injury to surgery. METHODS: Complete ACL stump specimens were collected from 40 volunteer patients who underwent arthroscopic ACL reconstruction surgery. Serial sections, 20 μm in thickness, were prepared from each specimen. After H&E staining and immunohistochemical labeling, the morphology, type, size, and quantity of the mechanoreceptors were observed under an optical microscope. RESULTS: A total of 176 Ruffini corpuscles, 61 pacinian corpuscles, 15 Golgi-like tendon organs, and 66 atypical mechanoreceptors were observed. Free nerve endings were commonly present in the specimens. The time from injury to surgery (log10 days) was negatively correlated with the number of total mechanoreceptors (r = -0.43, P < .006), Ruffini corpuscles (r = -0.45, P < .003), and the volume of the ACL stump (r = -0.52, P < .01), and these correlations were independent of age, gender, injury side, and career. CONCLUSIONS: The number of mechanoreceptors in an ACL stump and the volume of the stump decreased with the time from injury to surgery. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This study provides a further theoretical basis for ACL reconstruction with remnant preservation.
PURPOSE: To investigate the morphology and quantity of mechanoreceptors in the remnant stumps of injured anterior cruciate ligaments (ACLs) and the association of the number of mechanoreceptors with the time from injury to surgery. METHODS: Complete ACL stump specimens were collected from 40 volunteer patients who underwent arthroscopic ACL reconstruction surgery. Serial sections, 20 μm in thickness, were prepared from each specimen. After H&E staining and immunohistochemical labeling, the morphology, type, size, and quantity of the mechanoreceptors were observed under an optical microscope. RESULTS: A total of 176 Ruffini corpuscles, 61 pacinian corpuscles, 15 Golgi-like tendon organs, and 66 atypical mechanoreceptors were observed. Free nerve endings were commonly present in the specimens. The time from injury to surgery (log10 days) was negatively correlated with the number of total mechanoreceptors (r = -0.43, P < .006), Ruffini corpuscles (r = -0.45, P < .003), and the volume of the ACL stump (r = -0.52, P < .01), and these correlations were independent of age, gender, injury side, and career. CONCLUSIONS: The number of mechanoreceptors in an ACL stump and the volume of the stump decreased with the time from injury to surgery. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This study provides a further theoretical basis for ACL reconstruction with remnant preservation.
Authors: Luis Fernando Z Funchal; Rafael Ortiz; Andrew Jimenez; Gabriella Di Giunta Funchal; Moises Cohen; Diego Costa Astur Journal: Orthop J Sports Med Date: 2021-03-10