Researchers have discovered that applying non-thermal atmospheric pressure plasma on rotator cuff injuries leads to faster healing at the tendon-bone junction, resulting in greater strength than what is observed in a control group.
The human body, with its muscles and moving parts, is not impervious to injuries. Tendon and bone injuries are particularly frequent, notably in Japan, where around 25% of individuals over 50 years old experience rotator cuff tears. Even after surgical intervention, about 20% of these cases encounter re-tears. Therefore, there’s a pressing need for innovative healing techniques to enhance existing medical practices.
A team comprising graduate student Katsumasa Nakazawa, Associate Professor Hiromitsu Toyoda, and former Professor Hiroaki Nakamura from Osaka Metropolitan University’s Graduate School of Medicine, alongside Graduate School of Engineering Professor Jun-Seok Oh and their colleagues, has previously reported promising outcomes using non-thermal atmospheric pressure plasma for repairs involving bone and tendons. In their latest research, they applied plasma to the rotator cuffs of rabbit models to assess the healing rate and the strength of the repairs.
The study was divided into two groups: a control group and another group that received 5 minutes of plasma irradiation. In the experimental group, the rotator cuffs were detached, irradiated, and then sutured. The researchers compared the histological and mechanical strength differences at two, four, and eight-week intervals. Findings revealed that the plasma-treated group exhibited a tissue arrangement akin to a healthy tendon-bone junction after four and eight weeks.
Additionally, greater bone tissue development was recorded in the plasma group compared to the control. Biomechanical testing indicated that the force necessary to break the plasma-treated rotator cuff after eight weeks was nearly equivalent to that of an intact cuff.
Professor Toyoda remarked, “Should these findings be integrated into current clinical practices, we could see improvements in the reliability of rotator cuff repairs and a decrease in re-tear occurrences. Moreover, incorporating this technology into sports medicine could accelerate the recovery of athletes and enhance their performance.”
