title: Repair of digital flexor tendon lacerations in the horse, using carbon fiber implants.
abstract: Flexible medical grade carbon fiber was surgically implanted in tenectomized or lacerated superficial and deep digital flexor tendons of 13 horses (7 clinical cases and 6 experimental), ranging in age from 15 months to 10 years and weighing 300 to 500 kg. The 6 experimental horses were euthanatized at 30-, 45-, 60-, and 90-day intervals for gross and histologic evaluation of the results. Three of the experimental horses served as their own controls. Of the 7 clinically affected horses, 3 were euthanatized because they developed laminitis or the wound failed to heal. The remaining 4 horses in that group were discharged; 3 returned to their previous activities, and 1 was unavailable for follow-up. Carbon fiber produced a structure of approximately the same size and function as a normal tendon. Histologically, the fibroblasts and collagen fibers organized and aligned themselves in the early stages of healing. The implants appeared grossly and histologically to produce a cosmetically acceptable, strong, and functional tendon.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D002244:Carbon; D005552:Forelimb / Q000293:injuries; D006614:Hindlimb / Q000293:injuries; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D006736:Horses; D008722:Methods; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D013708:Tendon Injuries / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D013710:Tendons / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D014945:Wound Healing
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D002244:Carbon