Dl. Pruitt et al., CYCLIC STRESS-TESTING AFTER IN-VIVO HEALING OF CANINE FLEXOR TENDON LACERATIONS, The Journal of hand surgery, 21A(6), 1996, pp. 974-977
This study evaluated the effects of cyclic tension applied to lacerate
d and repaired canine flexor tendons after various periods of in vivo
healing for up to 30 days. Final gaps obtained after cyclic stress tes
ting were found to increase from a baseline of 0.75 +/- 0.17 mm (zero
time controls) to a maximum of 1.14 +/- 0.24 mm at 3 days after repair
, before returning to baseline at 10 days (0.63 +/- 0.27 mm). Cap form
ation at 30 days after repair (0.65 +/- 0.27 mm) was similar to that o
f control tendons. This canine study suggests that continued protectio
n of flexor tendons from strong repetitive tensile, stress should exte
nd at least through 30 days after repair.