title: Biomechanical and histological properties of the canine patellar tendon after removal of its medial third.
abstract: Three groups of dogs were used for this study. All dogs had the medial third of the patellar tendon removed from one knee, while the contralateral knee was used as a control. The time zero group was immediately sacrificed; the other two groups were sacrificed at 3 and 6 months. Once the tissues were harvested, the patellar tendon was isolated and biomechanical and histologic analyses were conducted. Three and 6 months after surgery, there was a large amount of visible scar tissue in the tendon. The cross-sectional area of the tendons was 275% and 288% of controls at 3 and 6 months, respectively. The tensile modulus of the tendon was statistically less than controls at both 3 and 6 months. The energy to failure and stiffness of the operated tendons were not statistically different than controls at 3 or 6 months after surgery. The results of this study directly contrast with those of an earlier study of the removal of the central third of the patellar tendon. While a number of factors could explain differences observed between removal of a central or medical third, this study confirms the short-term damaging effects of surgical removal of a portion of the patellar tendon to reconstruct a torn anterior cruciate ligament.
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials Science and Mechanics, Michigan State University, East Lansing 48824-1226.
authors.forename: L H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Linder
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Sukin
authors.forename: R T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Burks
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Haut
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000473:pathology; D003094:Collagen; D004285:Dogs; D004548:Elasticity; D008022:Ligaments / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D010329:Patella; D012421:Rupture; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013710:Tendons / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D013718:Tensile Strength; D013997:Time Factors; D014945:Wound Healing
chemical_list: D003094:Collagen