Effect of Vitamin C Injection on Flexor Tendon Healing in Zone II: A Randomized Controlled Trial

TL;DR

A study tested vitamin C injections on tendon healing after surgery but found no significant improvement compared to standard care.

Contribution

This is the first randomized controlled trial evaluating vitamin C injections for flexor tendon healing in Zone II.

Findings

Vitamin C group showed improved range of motion and SRS scores compared to control.

Improvements were not statistically significant (p>0.05).

Abstract

Background

Tendons are connective tissues that link muscles to bones, playing a key role in transmitting force and enabling joint movement. Tendon injuries, such as inflammation and tears, commonly occur due to excessive strain or repetitive motions, causing pain and decreased function. Because of its important role in collagen production and antioxidant effects, vitamin C has been suggested as a supplement to support healing in tendon injuries. This study aims to assess the impact of vitamin C injections on recovery from tendon tears in patients after surgery.

Methods

This study was conducted as a randomized controlled clinical trial. A total of 30 patients scheduled for flexor tendon repair who met the inclusion criteria were randomly assigned to either the intervention group or the control group. The intervention group received vitamin C injections after surgery, while the control group received standard care. Outcomes were assessed using range of motion (ROM) metrics and the Strickland Rating Scale (SRS) to compare the recovery results between the two groups.

Results

The findings showed that the ROM and the SRS scores improved in the intervention group that received vitamin C compared to the control group. However, these differences were not statistically significant (p>0.05). This indicates that while vitamin C might help speed up tendon healing, there was no meaningful difference between the two groups in terms of measurable recovery.

Conclusion

Although preliminary data suggest the potential benefits of vitamin C supplementation in tendon healing, current evidence does not demonstrate an advantage over standard treatment. Further research is necessary to determine its therapeutic role in clinical practice.

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