A comparison of repair methods for gap healing in equine flexor tendon.
Abstract: In nine horses (18 forelimbs), a 3 cm section of superficial digital flexor tendon was removed and the tendons were repaired with immobilization for 6 weeks and (1) no suture (n = 6); (2) a double locking loop tenorrhaphy with carbon fiber (n = 6); or (3) a double locking loop tenorrhaphy with size 2 nylon suture (n = 6). Clinical assessment, gross evaluation, morphometry, histology, and mechanical testing were performed on two limbs from each treatment group at weeks 6, 12, and 24. At weeks 6 and 12, the unsutured tissue was less mature than the tissue sutured with nylon. By week 24, the carbon fiber repair had breaking stress (mean, 12.5 M Pa) similar to the unsutured repair (mean, 10.6 M Pa). There was necrosis and a granulomatous foreign body reaction around the carbon fiber. The nylon suture repair had significantly greater strength per unit area (mean breaking stress, 20.4 M Pa) because of a smaller area of repair tissue in the gap (mean, 3.6 cm2). At week 24, the nylon suture repair tissue was the most mature with the least inflammation of the three repair methods. A nylon double locking loop suture was the preferred method for equine flexor tenorrhaphy of a tendon gap because of greater breaking stress, histologic maturity, biocompatibility, and the adequate functional and cosmetic outcome.
Publication Date: 1990-07-01 PubMed ID: 2200199DOI: 10.1111/j.1532-950x.1990.tb01181.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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- Comparative Study
- Journal Article
Summary
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The research article discusses a study comparing three different methods of equine flexor tendon repair, with nylon double locking loop suture method offering the best results in terms of breaking stress, histologic maturity, biocompatibility, and functional and cosmetic outcomes.
Objective and Methodology
- The aim of the research was to examine and compare the effectiveness of three different methods for repairing a 3 cm gap in a horse’s superficial digital flexor tendon.
- The methods involved using no suture, a double locking loop tenorrhaphy with carbon fiber, or a double locking loop tenorrhaphy with size 2 nylon suture.
- Nine horses (or 18 forelimbs) were involved in the experiment, with each method being tested on six of the individuals.
- Post-surgery, the tendons were immobilized for six weeks. Clinical evaluation, comprehensive examination, morphometry, histology, and mechanical testing were performed at the 6, 12, and 24-week intervals.
Findings
- At the 6 and 12 week evaluations, unsutured tissue exhibited less maturity compared to tissue sutured with nylon.
- By the 24th week, the carbon fiber repair showed similar breaking stress to the unsutured repair, with a mean of 12.5 MPa and 10.6 MPa respectively. However, the carbon fiber method gave rise to necrosis and a hostile reaction to the foreign body.
- In comparison, the nylon suture repair showed significantly higher strength per unit area, with a mean breaking stress of 20.4 MPa. This was due to a smaller area of repair tissue within the gap, averaging 3.6 cm².
Conclusion
- By the end of the 24-week period, the nylon suture repair tissue was found to be the most mature, showing the least inflammation, of the three repair methods.
- The research concluded that a nylon double locking loop suture is the preferred method for equine flexor tenorrhaphy of a tendon gap. They based this on observed factors such as greater breaking stress, histologic maturity, good biocompatibility, as well as good functional and cosmetic outcomes.
Cite This Article
APA
Bertone AL, Stashak TS, Smith FW, Norrdin RW.
(1990).
A comparison of repair methods for gap healing in equine flexor tendon.
Vet Surg, 19(4), 254-265.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1532-950x.1990.tb01181.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Carbon / adverse effects
- Casts, Surgical / adverse effects
- Casts, Surgical / veterinary
- Female
- Foreign-Body Reaction / etiology
- Foreign-Body Reaction / veterinary
- Forelimb
- Horse Diseases / etiology
- Horses / surgery
- Male
- Nylons
- Suture Techniques / veterinary
- Sutures / veterinary
- Tendons / surgery
Citations
This article has been cited 3 times.- Khajeh A, Baniadam A, Oryan A, Ghadiri A, Naddaf H. Effectiveness of nuchal ligament autograft in the healing of an experimental superficial digital flexor tendon defect in equid. Vet Res Forum 2021 Winter;12(1):53-61.
- Zhao C, Chieh HF, Bakri K, Ikeda J, Sun YL, Moran SL, An KN, Amadio PC. The effects of bone marrow stromal cell transplants on tendon healing in vitro. Med Eng Phys 2009 Dec;31(10):1271-5.
- Crawford WH, Ingle JE. Repair of a deep digital tendon deficit in a horse using a polypropylene implant. Can Vet J 1997 May;38(5):294-6.
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