We conducted this study to evaluate the effect of radiofrequency (RF) stimulation with suture repair on the healing of tears in the meniscal white-white zone. Fifty-four New Zealand white @entity95 underwent surgically induced @entity130 within the white-white region. RF was applied using a 0.8-mm TOPAZ MicroDebrider RF wand (ArthroCare) at level 4 for 500 milliseconds. @entity95 were sacrificed at 28 and 84 days for gross and histologic analysis by 3 blinded observers and at 9, 28, and 84 days for biochemical examination. Biochemical analyses included evaluation of cell proliferation ( @entity665 ), as well as mitogenic ( @entity2503 , bFGF) and angiogenic ( @entity94 , aV) factors. Of specimens repaired with RF combined with suture, 19 (58%) showed a degree of gross morphologic and histologic healing. No significant healing was seen in specimens with either no repair or repair with suture alone. We observed a 40% increase in cellular proliferation when RF supplementation was used (P < .05). With regards to mitogenic and angiogenic markers ( @entity2503 , bFGF, @entity94 , and aV), there was a significant increase in groups treated with RF at 9 and 28 days (P > 0.05). RF supplementation of avascular zone meniscal repairs may lead to an increased healing response.

Radiofrequency stimulation for potential healing of XXXX in the avascular zone.

@entity2503 :: ('100008668(Tax:9986)', 'Gene') :: ['IGF-1'] @entity95 :: ('9986', 'Species') :: ['Rabbits', 'rabbits'] @entity665 :: ('CHEBI:53526', 'Chemical') :: ['3H-thymidine'] @entity94 :: ('100008899(Tax:9986)', 'Gene') :: ['VEGF'] @entity130 :: ('MESH:D014947', 'Disease') :: ['meniscal injuries']
@entity130 :: (MESH:D014947,Disease) :: ['meniscal injuries']
