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Home / Equine Research Bank / Vet Surg / An ex vivo biomechanical comparison of two suture materials ...
Veterinary surgery : VS2021; 50(5); 1137-1146; doi: 10.1111/vsu.13658

An ex vivo biomechanical comparison of two suture materials and two pattern combinations for equine superficial digital flexor tendon tenorrhaphy.

Abstract: To compare biomechanical characteristics of three-loop pulley (3LP) pattern versus Bunnell technique (BT) using polydioxanone (PDS) suture; to determine the influence of polyester tape (PT) versus PDS on the BT for equine superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) tenorrhaphy; to compare BT with PT versus 3LP with PDS. Methods: Ex vivo biomechanical study. Methods: Forty equine forelimb SDFT. Methods: Two experiments were performed: (1) 10 SDFT pairs were repaired with 3LP or BT using PDS; (2) 10 SDFT pairs were repaired with PDS or PT using BT. Load at failure, mode of failure, load at 2 mm gap, and gap at failure were obtained using a material testing machine. Results: In experiment 1, 3LP + PDS had higher loads at failure (p < .001) and at 2 mm gap (p < .001), and smaller gap at failure than BT + PDS (p = .024). In experiment 2, BT + PT had higher loads at failure (p < .001) and at 2 mm gap (p = .001), and larger gap at failure (p = .004) than the BT + PDS . 3LP + PDS and BT + PT mostly failed by suture/implant pull-through while BT + PDS failed by suture breakage. BT + PT had greater load (p = .035) and gap at failure (p < .001) than 3LP + PDS with no difference in load at 2 mm gap (p = .14). Conclusions: The use of BT may be justified over 3LP if combined with PT. However, the larger size of the PT required stab incisions in the tendon for placement and was subjectively more difficult to place than PDS. Conclusions: The BT + PT, although the strongest among the tested repairs, would only be able to withstand 12%-24% of the load encountered by the SDFT at walk.
© 2021 The Authors. Veterinary Surgery published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American College of Veterinary Surgeons.
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Publication Date: 2021-05-13 PubMed ID: 33982804DOI: 10.1111/vsu.13658Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Comparative Study
  • Journal Article

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research compares the performance of two types of sutures and techniques in repairing the superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) in horses. It found that the combination of the Bunnell technique (BT) and polyester tape (PT) offered greater strength, although it was more difficult to use.

Study Overview and Methods

  • The study carried out two sets of experiments of equine SDFT repairs. The first ten pairs of tendons were repaired using the three-loop pulley (3LP) pattern or the Bunnell technique (BT), both with polydioxanone (PDS) suture. In the second experiment, ten pairs were repaired using either PDS or PT, both with the BT.
  • The reparation’s resilience was then tested, with measurements taken of the load (pressure the suture could withstand before failure), mode of failure (how failure occurred), the load at a 2mm gap, and the gap or separation at the point of failure.
  • Data was gathered using a material testing machine.

Results

  • In the first experiment, 3LP using PDS produced higher loads at failure, greater loads at a 2mm gap, and smaller gaps at failure compared to BT using PDS.
  • In the second set of experiments, BT combined with PT had higher loads at failure and at 2mm gap, and a larger gap at failure in comparison to the same technique using PDS.
  • Interestingly, the experiment found that BT combined with PT offered greater loads and gaps at failure than 3LP combined with PDS, with no difference in load at a 2mm gap.

Conclusions

  • The research concluded that BT could be preferable to 3LP if used with PT, due to the greater load at failure. However, the use of PT required extra incisions in the tendon and was harder to place than PDS.
  • The strongest tested repairs – BT with PT – could withstand approximately 12% to 24% of the load encountered by the SDFT during a regular horse walk.

Cite This Article

APA
Giacchi A, McMaster MA. (2021). An ex vivo biomechanical comparison of two suture materials and two pattern combinations for equine superficial digital flexor tendon tenorrhaphy. Vet Surg, 50(5), 1137-1146. https://doi.org/10.1111/vsu.13658

Publication

Veterinary surgery : VS
ISSN: 1532-950X
NlmUniqueID: 8113214
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 50
Issue: 5
Pages: 1137-1146

Researcher Affiliations

Giacchi, Andrea
  • Weipers Centre Equine Hospital, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.
McMaster, Mattie A
  • Weipers Centre Equine Hospital, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Biomechanical Phenomena
  • Cadaver
  • Female
  • Forelimb
  • Horse Diseases / surgery
  • Horses
  • Male
  • Materials Testing / veterinary
  • Orthopedic Procedures / veterinary
  • Polydioxanone
  • Polyesters
  • Suture Techniques / veterinary
  • Sutures / veterinary
  • Tendon Injuries / surgery
  • Tendon Injuries / veterinary
  • Tendons / surgery
  • Tensile Strength

Grant Funding

  • 145974-05 / Weipers Equine Centre Fund, University of Glasgow School of Veterinary Medicine

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