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Scientific Articles:
Struan H. Coleman, Stephen Fealy, John R. Ehteshami, John D. MacGillivray, David W. Altchek, Russell F. Warren, and A. Simon Turner
Chronic Rotator Cuff Injury and Repair Model in Sheep
J Bone Joint Surg Am 2003; 85: 2391-2402 [Abstract] [Full text] [PDF]
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[Read Letter to the Editor] Chronic Rotator Cuff Injury and Repair Model in Sheep
Hans K. Uhthoff, Guy Trudel   (30 March 2004)

Chronic Rotator Cuff Injury and Repair Model in Sheep 30 March 2004
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Hans K. Uhthoff,
Professor Emeritus
University of Ottawa,
Guy Trudel

Send letter to journal:
Re: Chronic Rotator Cuff Injury and Repair Model in Sheep

hans.uhthoff{at}sympatico.ca Hans K. Uhthoff, et al.

To the Editor:

We enjoyed reading “Chronic Rotator Cuff Injury and Repair Model in Sheep” (2003;85:2391-1402) and would like to congratulate the authors of this interesting study. We must take issue, however, with their statements that “As there is no animal model in which to examine the physiology of muscle and tendon injury and repair in this setting, we developed a chronic rotator cuff injury model”; and, “the purpose of our study was to develop a chronic cuff repair model in sheep that allows differentiation between released tendon edge and surrounding scar at the time of repair”.

We would like to point out that such a model has already been developed and tested. (1,2). In those studies we found that in rabbits, delayed reinsertion of the supraspinatus tendon by wrapping the tendon stump in a Durapore® membrane prevented adhesions. Our results were supported by precise measurements of extra- and intramuscular fat and by the description of enthesis reformation. They were presented at the closed meeting of the American Shoulder and Elbows in Austin Texas on October 20, 20001 and published in J Orthop.Research (2).

Research in this field will undoubtedly benefit from the addition of a sheep model to investigate the problems associated with delayed tendon healing.

Hans K. Uhthoff MD FRCSC Guy Trudel MD FRCPC Bone and Joint Research Laboratory University of Ottawa 451 Smyth Road #1319 Ottawa ON Canada K1H 8M5

1. Uhthoff HK, Matsumoto F, Trudel G: Irreversibility of muscle atrophy and fatty infiltration after delayed reattachment of the supraspinatus tendon. Closed meeting of American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons, Austin TX October 20, 2000. Abstract #1, page 20. 2. Matsumoto F, Uhthoff HK, Trudel G, Loehr JF Delayed tendon reattachment does not reverse atrophy and fat accumulation of the supraspinatus. J Orthop Res. 2002;20:357-363