Direct Radiofrequency Application Improves Pain and Gait in Collagenase-Induced Acute Achilles Tendon Injury

Figure 6

Nerve fibers stained green (arrows) and fibroblast nuclei stained blue in tendon matrix. Nerve fibers sprouting occurred mainly in high cellularity areas that have fibroblasts proliferation. Lesser nerve fibers were observed in RF-treated tendons (a). RF significantly reduced nerve fibers diameter ((b), 𝑛=5, 𝑃<0.01). On day 9, nerve fiber diameter was significantly decreased ((b), 𝑛=5, ^∗𝑃<0.05). With or without RF nerve fiber diameter has a tendency to increase after day 9 ((b)). Magnification, 200x; scale bar, 100 μm.

(a)

(b)