FLEXOR TENDON REPAIR USING A STAINLESS-STEEL INTERNAL ANCHOR - BIOMECHANICAL STUDY ON HUMAN CADAVER TENDONS

We have developed a stainless steel internal tendon anchor that is use d to strengthen a tendon repair, This study tested its use in vitro to produce a repair that can withstand the tensile strength demands of e arly active flexion. Fresh human cadaver flexor digitorum profundus te ndons were harvested, divided, and then repaired using four different techniques: Kessler, Becker or Savage stitches, or the internal tendon anchor. The internal splint repairs demonstrated a 99-270% increase i n mean maximal linear tensile strength and a 49-240% increase in mean ultimate tensile strength over the other repairs. It is hoped that thi s newly developed internal anchor will provide a repair that will be s trong enough to allow immediate active range of motion.