SURGICAL REPAIR OF AVULSED GASTROCNEMIUS TENDON IN EXPERIMENTAL DOGS

The gastrocnemius tendon being the principal component of Achilles ten don acts as a powerful extensor of tarsal joint and often prone for st ress injuries like avulsion or detachment from its point of insertion or origin from appendicular skeleton, which eventually leads to locomo tor dysfunction (Vierheller, 1972 and Van, 1986) For the past 2 decade s most of the reports described surgical repair of avulsed gastrocnemi us tendon in combination with immobilization of hock for varying perio ds by means of internal or external fixation (Van, 1986; Vaughan, 1987 and Jayadevappa et nl., 1993). In this study a simple modified surgic al technique comprising of anchorage of avulsed gastrocnemius tendon t o tubercalcis by employing Bunnel-Mayer suture pattern with nonabsorba ble Polypropylene (Prolene(1)) sature material, stabilising knot and t emporary immunobilization of tarsal joint for three weeks following su rgery, was evaluated in twelve experimental dogs.