Phenytoin accelerates tendon healing in a rat model of Achilles tendon rupture

Tendons are vulnerable to various types of acute or chronic injures. Different methods have
been investigated to achieve better healing. Phenytoin is a drug which could stimulate fibroblasts to produce
collagen. This experimental study was performed to assess the effect of phenytoin on tendon healing in a rat
model of tendon rupture.
METHODS: Thirty healthy rats were divided into 3 groups, 1) Sham group; 2) Tendon rupture; 3) Tendon
rupture+phenytoin (100 mg/kg intraperitoneally) for 21 days. On 21st day after tendon injury, the rats were
anesthetized and tendon tissue was sampled for studying by light and electron microscopy.
RESULTS: Qualitative and quantitative microscopic comparisons of the repair tissues of both groups were made
on the 21st day. The results obtained from light and electron microscopy studies showed that tendon tissue
healing was significantly better in phenytoin group compared to the control group (p < 0.05).
CONCLUSIONS: Systemic administration of phenytoin may have a positive effect on tendon healing by increasing fibroblast quantity, fibrillar collagen synthesis, vascularity, and suppressing inflammation (Tab. 2, Ref. 25).
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