A soluble fabric dressing developed by scientists from Oxford is expected to improve the results of surgical operations on muscles and tendons, reports BBC News.
The fabric wrapped around the operated soft tissues is the work of the team led by prof. Andrew Carr from the University of Oxford. It will be tested in patients with shoulder injuries.
Each year in England and Wales, around 10000 shoulder surgeries are performed on the tendons that connect the muscles to the bones. Over the last decade, their number has increased by 500%, but every fourth operation fails – the tendon breaks. This is especially common in patients over 40 or 50 years of age.
To prevent cracking, scientists from Oxford decided to cover the operated area with a cloth. One side of the implanted fabric is made of highly resistant fibers to withstand the stresses associated with limb movement, the other side is made of fibers hundreds of times thinner than a hair. The latter stimulate repair processes. After a few months, the implant is to dissolve so that it does not cause long-term complications.
The implant was developed thanks to the combination of modern and traditional technology – fibers made with the use of pioneering technology were woven on miniature, hand-operated looms.
The authors of the method hope that it will also be used in people with arthritis (for cartilage regeneration), hernias, bladder damage and heart defects. (PAP)