Excessive radiofrequency application: effects on capsular tissue in an animal model

Brian R Wolf; Anneliese D Heiner; John P Albright; James V Nepola

doi:10.1016/j.jse.2004.06.009

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Excessive radiofrequency application: effects on capsular tissue in an animal model

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Excessive radiofrequency application: effects on capsular tissue in an animal model

Brian R Wolf, Anneliese D Heiner, John P Albright and James V Nepola

Journal of shoulder and elbow surgery, Vol.14(2), pp.149-156

03/2005

DOI: 10.1016/j.jse.2004.06.009

PMID: 15789008

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Abstract

Capsular attenuation has been seen after thermal capsulorrhaphy surgery. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the mechanical, histologic, and morphologic effects on capsular tissue after cumulative applications of radiofrequency energy. Ovine patellofemoral capsular tissue was treated with 1, 2, 4, or 8 applications of bipolar radiofrequency energy and then analyzed. No acute capsular ablation or destruction was seen grossly, even in the 8-application group. No definitive visual clues that excessive radiofrequency energy had been applied were seen. There was significant shrinkage and loss of tensile stiffness for all thermal application groups. Given the small sample sizes, post-application failure load, percent relaxation, and stiffness were not observed to be significantly different among the groups. Cumulative applications produced minimal further tissue shrinkage but were accompanied by larger, though not statistically significant, mechanical property losses and increased depth of tissue penetration. These findings suggest that there is no benefit to repeated applications of radiofrequency energy to capsular tissue.

Catheter Ablation - methods

Tensile Strength

Retreatment

Biomechanical Phenomena

Animals

Time Factors

Models, Animal

Sheep

Random Allocation

Joint Capsule - pathology

Joint Capsule - physiopathology

Joint Capsule - surgery

Details

Title: Subtitle: Excessive radiofrequency application: effects on capsular tissue in an animal model
Creators: Brian R Wolf - Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA. brian-wolf@uiowa.edu
Anneliese D Heiner
John P Albright
James V Nepola
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Journal of shoulder and elbow surgery, Vol.14(2), pp.149-156
Publisher: United States
DOI: 10.1016/j.jse.2004.06.009
PMID: 15789008
ISSN: 1058-2746
eISSN: 1532-6500
Language: English
Date published: 03/2005
Academic Unit: Orthopedics and Rehabilitation; Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science
Record Identifier: 9984040474502771

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