EFFECTS OF A DELAYED STEROID INJECTION ON LIGAMENT HEALING USING A RABBIT MEDIAL COLLATERAL LIGAMENT MODEL

Corticosteroids are known to inhibit collagen synthesis in vitro as we ll as having a deleterious effect on ligament healing when applied imm ediately following injury. An acute injection of betamethasone into a transected rabbit medial collateral ligament significantly impaired th e biomechanical and histological properties compared to non-injected t ransected ligaments. Differences in mechanical, histological and bioch emical properties were observed up to 3 months following injury and an acute steroid injection. The present study explored the effects of a corticosteroid (betamethasone) injection 7 days following the initial injury. Biomechanical and histomorphometric analyses were carried out to determine if the previously observed deleterious effects of a corti costeroid injection immediately following injury can be linked to an i nterference in the inflammatory phase of healing due to the presence o f the corticosteroid.