Hw. Jann et Jw. Alexander, USING A MODIFIED 3-LOOP PULLEY TENORRHAPHY TO REPAIR AVULSION OF THE GASTROCNEMIUS TENDON IN DOGS, Veterinary medicine, 91(9), 1996, pp. 841-845
REPAIRING an avulsed gastrocnemius tendon in large, athletic breeds of
dogs requires a tenorrhaphy technique maximally resistant to gap form
ation.(1-3) A modified three-loop pulley tenorrhaphy, combined with ta
rsal immobilization, is effective in repairing this injury. It is supe
rior to previously reported tenorrhaphy techniques, such as the lockin
g-loop technique, because it resists gaps better and causes minimal di
stortion of tendon ends and disruption of blood flow.(4-6) This suture
pattern has been used in small animals,(7) chickens,(8) and large ani
mals.(9,10) It is primarily useful in cases in which insufficient tend
on remains distally to allow suture placement. As we describe, the dis
tal three suture passes are placed through a single hole in the tuber
calcanei.