M. Aoki et al., BIOMECHANICAL AND HISTOLOGIC CHARACTERISTICS OF CANINE FLEXOR TENDON REPAIR USING EARLY POSTOPERATIVE MOBILIZATION, The Journal of hand surgery, 22A(1), 1997, pp. 107-114
The purpose of this experimental study was to evaluate the mechanical
and histologic healing of flexor tendon repairs using an early active
motion protocol. Three different flexor tendon repair techniques in zo
ne II were used. Forty-seven lacerated canine flexor profundus tendons
from 25 dogs were repaired and evaluated al 5, 10, and 21 days after
surgery. Eight of 9 Kessler repairs ruptured at days 5 and 10. None of
the 19 Savage repairs or the 19 dorsal tendon splint repairs ruptured
; 3 of 19 dorsal tendon splint repairs failed owing to adhesions. Smoo
th tendon gliding was obtained in all specimens in which repair was su
ccessful. The gap strength values for both the Savage and dorsal tendo
n splint repairs improved significantly for day-21 specimens compared
to day-5 or day-10 specimens. The ultimate tensile strength showed no
reduction during the 3-week period of tendon healing for both repairs.
Histologically, there was evidence of progressive healing without sur
rounding adhesions. The improved suture techniques have the potential
to withstand the stress produced by active digital motion protocols.