Influência da estimulação elétrica transcutânea na cicatrização do tendão do ventre lateral do músculo gastrocnêmio em coelhos

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the macroscopy, the morphology of healing process and to quantify collagen fibers in the site of the cicatricial repair of the tendon of the lateral womb of the gastrocnemius muscle in rabbits, after tenotomy and tenorrhaphy, submitted to transcutaneous electrical stimulation with alternating current. Twenty-four male rabbits, of the New Zealand race, were used and divided into four groups of the same number, in order to evaluate the cicatricial repair of the tendon at 7, 15, 21 and 30 days post-surgery. In each animal a longitudinal incision of 3 centimeters of skin and subcutaneous was accomplished in the lateral face of the tibia nearly the calcaneos bone, the tendon of the lateral gastrocnemios muscle was separated, sectioned and submitted to a synthesis with Kessler modified suture. Soon afterwards the adjacent tissues were approximated and the skin sutured in the separated simple standard. After 24 hours, daily at the same schedule, were done near the cutaneous wound of the right pelvic member, applications of 2 mA of alternative current, during six minutes, at a frequency of 100 Hz. The material collected was examined by macroscopy and light microscopy. Significant difference wasn´t found between the treaty tendon and the control. The Kinesis electrical stimulator, utilized in the transcutaneous electrical stimulation with 2 mA of alternative current, for six minutes daily, is unable to promote better healing, neither increase in the percentage of the collagen fibers in the site of the cicatricial repair of the tendon of the lateral womb of the gastrocnemius muscle in rabbits of the New Zealand race.