Musculoskeletal Pathology & Healing Flashcards
Tissue/cells capable of some regeneration
- fibroblasts
- chondrocytes
- peripheral nerves
- osteocytes
- endothelial cells
- blood cells
- outer meniscus
Tissue not capable of regeneration (scar)
- cartilage (micro fracture procedure)
- central nervous system nerves
- disc
- inner meniscus
- cruciate ligament
Define acute injury
- result of a single trauma
Define overuse injury
- involves repetitive stresses associated with prolonged activity
- repetitive micro trauma exceeds the healing capacity of the tissue
Contributing factors to orthopedic injuries
- weakness
- poor endurance
- poor coordination
- poor aerobic capacity
- inadequate nutrition
- insufficient rest/recovery
Injuries to muscle can involve
- strain (partial or complete tear)
- laceration
- contusion
- post exercise soreness
- compartment syndrome
Where is a strain & overuse injury most common
- myotendinous joint (MTJ)
Characteristics of muscles that are most susceptible to injury
- a greater percentage of Type II fibers
- two joint muscles
- muscles subject to high eccentric loading
Healing of skeletal muscle occurs via two competing pathways
- regeneration of disrupted muscle (myoblasts)
- production of connective tissue scar (fibroblasts)
Define regeneration
- production of newly synthesized tissue that is structurally & functionally identical to the tissue that was traumatized
What can scarring inhibit
- it may inhibit the regeneration of muscle fibers if the formation of granulation tissue is excessive
What occurs during the first 24 hours of muscle healing
- large number of mononuclear cells within damaged muscle cells & in the intercellular connective tissue
- RBCs & fibrin clots at the site of injury
- presence of myoblasts
What occurs during 24-48 hours post injury of muscle healing
- marked catabolic response with loss of 27% of total protein
- most necrotic muscle fragments have been removed (phagocytosis)
- fibroblasts become prevalent in the connective tissue
- myoblasts begin to orient along the longitudinal axis of the broken ends of the muscle fibers
- a hematoma will be noted in the central portion of the injury
What occurs after day 3 of muscle healing
- myoblasts show central nuclei & reorganizing sarcomeres, suggesting the early phase of regeneration
- increasing my oblast formation & myotubes begin to form
- muscle protein accumulation begins
- an intact myofiber may be generated within 7 to 14 days following injury
- fibroblasts are activated
- continued phagocytosis (macrophages) of necrotic muscle fibers
- hematoma still visible histologically
What occurs during days 5-7 of muscle healing
- further progression of regeneration (increased presence of myoblasts & myotubes)
- significant decline in degree of inflammation
- central zone of injury: reduces in size & is filled with granulation tissue
- hematoma small of gone at this point
What occurs after day 14 of muscle healing
- hematoma has resolved
- young scar tissue
- a few muscle fibers can be seen traversing the scar tissue that separates the torn muscle fibers within this regenerating zone
- collagen continues to be laid down
What occurs after the 21 day of muscle healing
- complete repletion of the protein loss
- diminished evidence of active muscle tissue regeneration & fibroblast activity
- central zone of the injury all but disappeared, leaving behind a thin connective tissue septum
- regenerating muscle fibers are now extending across the gap (connective tissue septum) & joining surviving muscle stumps
Muscle healing limitations
- in order to recover normal muscle function following a laceration injury: muscle must regenerate across the repair site & denervated muscle tissue must be reinnervated
- most denervated fragments remain that way
Define sarcopenia
- age related loss of skeletal muscle mass, function, & ability to regenerate
Theoretical causes of muscle mass loss
- diet & nutrition
- hormonal change
- loss of ability to innervate myofibers during healing
How much muscle mass does an adult lose after the age of 70
- 1% of muscle mass per year
Effects of sarcopenia
- loss of muscle mass changes metabolic rate
- difficulty completing ADLs requiring significant muscle power
- slow gait speed
- decreased balance reactions
Define myositis ossificans
- abnormal formation of bone within a muscle following a muscle contusion injury
Symptoms of a myositis ossificans
- prolonged disability
- severe pain
- a significant loss of function
Signs of a myositis ossificans
- a large, firm/tender mass within a contused muscle in concert with restricted joint motion
- plain radiographs will show a soft tissue density at 3 weeks post-injury
- by 4 to 6 months the bone formation is usually complete
Risk factors of myositis ossificans
- hematoma formation
- moderate to severe contusion
- early exercise
- youth
- injury to bone or periosteum
- injury near the musculotendinous junction
- multiple episodes of injury
Contraindications for myositis ossificans
- aggressive, early activity
- heat
- ultrasound
- massage
Treatment for myositis ossificans
- initial treatment should focus on limiting severity of hemorrhaging
- rest has been the treatment of choice
What are the limitations to muscle healing
- it won’t get back to 100% but can get close to pre-injury levels, it will take some time
What is the primary function of a tendon
- primary function is to transmit muscle force to the skeletal system
Describe a tendon
- tendons consist of fibroblasts, collagen, and elastin in a ground substance matrix
- is predominantly type I collagen
- type III and type V collagen make up about 5% of the tendon
How do tendons heal
- they heal by repair
- repair is also regeneration
- a healed tendon is not as strong
Tendon healing inflammatory phase
- neutrophils are the first inflammatory cells to arrive at injury site
- Day 2 macrophages & lymphocytes are prevalent
- inflammation has ceased by day 14
Tendon healing proliferative phase
- Days 5-7 fibroblastic activity increases & inflammation decreases
- developing scar tissue has no significant extracellular matrix for strength & stability (very fragile in this stage)
- extensive collagen synthesis in the healing tendon
- type III collagen is produced 1st
- as healing progresses type III collagen is replaced by type I
- myofibroblasts are most active from days 5-21
- Day 21 bundles of collagen fibrils can be seen
- scar tissue rapidly increases in density up to day 21