Vet Comp Orthop Traumatol 2020; 33(04): A15-A26
DOI: 10.1055/s-0040-1714942
Podium Abstracts
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Influence of Barbed Epitendinous Suture in Combination with a Core Locking Loop Suture for Flexor Tendon Repair in a Canine Cadaveric Translational Laceration Model

D Duffy
1   Department of Clinical Sciences, North Carolina State University (NCSU) College of Veterinary Medicine, Raleigh, North Carolina, United States
,
A Eby
2   Department of Clinical Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, United States
,
M Fisher
3   Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill,, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, United States
,
Moore GE
4   Internal Medicine - Epidemiology, Purdue University - College of Veterinary Medicine, West Lafayette, Indiana, United States
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
20 July 2020 (online)

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Introduction: The identification of non-traditional tenorrhaphy techniques to resist gap formation at physiologic loads is a crucial step to determining the efficacy and safety of barbed sutures prior to clinical use. Objective: Determine the influence of barbed epitendinous suture (ES) placement on the biomechanical strength and gap formation of repaired tendons.

Materials and Methods: Tendons were divided into five groups (n = 16). After transection tendons were repaired with a locking loop (LL) pattern alone (group 1) LL + ES using smooth monofilament (group 2), LL + barbed Vloc (group 3), LL + barbed Quill (group 4), LL + barbed Stratafix (group 5). Following preloading, constructs were loaded to failure. Failure mode, gapping, yield, peak, and failure forces were analyzed. Significance set at p < 0.05.

Results: Yield, peak and failure force were significantly greater when an ES was added (p < 0.005) with groups 2 and 5 being superior compared with other groups (p < 0.0001). Force to create 1- and 3-mm gaps were greater for groups 2 and 5 (p < 0.0001), respectively. Failure mechanism did not differ (p = 0.092) between groups, with suture breakage occurring in 80% of constructs.

Discussion/Conclusion: ES placement significantly increases repair-site strength and decreases the occurrence of gap formation. Stratafix barbed suture is superior to other barbed suture types, showing equivalence to monofilament suture without the need for knot tying. Use of an ES resulted in a stronger tendinous repair. Stratafix barbed suture significantly increased yield, peak and failure loads 2.8×, 2.9×, and 2.9×, respectively, compared with LL alone. Suture techniques should be investigated in vivo prior to clinical implementation.

Acknowledgment: Financial support was provided by the North Carolina State University Department of Clinical Sciences Firestone Canine Research Endowment Fund.