HEALING OF TENDONS

In the digital canal, the tendon healing has a double origin: the extrinsic one, where the synovial sheet and the paratendinous tissues (paratendon) are invading the tendon wound, permitting the growth of the fibroblasts; the latter produces collagen fibres, which constitute the tendinous callus; the intrinsic one, where the proper cells of the tendon from the epitenon (epitenocytes) and of the endotenon (endotenocytes), also produce fibroblasts, which is a source of collagen fibres. The experimentation has shown, on one hand, that the preservation of the synovial sheet, and, on the other hand, that early mobilisation, as far as the tendon suture has been protected, enhance the intrinsic type of cicatrisation against the extrinsic one, and sofare the functional result.