USING A MODIFIED 3-LOOP PULLEY TENORRHAPHY TO REPAIR AVULSION OF THE GASTROCNEMIUS TENDON IN DOGS

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.