Tendon implantation into bone: an experimental study.
We report the results of an experimental study to investigate the mechanical properties and histological structure of the tendon-bone junction following surgical implantation of tendon into bone in the rabbit. The results following tendon transfer and tendon grafting were compared. The normal four-zone tendon junction was not reproduced histologically, in either group. After 20 weeks, the mechanical strength of the tendon transfers had reached 60% of the controls and that of the tendon grafts 20% of the controls. Microangiography demonstrated that these differences were not related to the vascularisation of the tendon bone junction. The mechanical properties of the tendon-bone junction may be dependent more on the functional state of the implanted tendon than on its structure.
Northwick Park Hospital, Harrow, Middlesex.
J R
JR
Jones
J G
JG
Smibert
C J
CJ
McCullough
A B
AB
Price
W C
WC
Hutton
D000818:Animals; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000601:surgery*; D011817:Rabbits; D013709:Tendon Transfer; D013710:Tendons / Q000473:pathology / Q000637:transplantation*; D013718:Tensile Strength