title: Mechanical characteristics of cross-stitch epitenon suture in association with various two-strand core sutures: a biomechanical study using canine cadaver tendons.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to investigate the ultimate tensile strength and stiffness of the cross-stitch epitenon suture technique in association with three different two-strand core suture techniques (the modified Kessler, Tsuge, and two-strand Savage). Twenty-four canine cadaver flexor profundus tendons were lacerated and repaired by one of the following techniques: the cross-stitch (Group 1), the modified Kessler with cross-stitch (Group 2), the Tsuge with cross-stitch (Group 3), and the two-strand Savage with cross-stitch (Group 4). Ultimate strength was determined with a tensile testing machine and stiffness was recorded by a video dimension analyser system. The ultimate strength of Group 2 (5.704 kgf) was significantly greater than that of the other techniques, followed by Group 4 (4.608 kgf), Group 3 (3.568 kgf), and Group 1 (2.935 kgf). The stiffness of Group 2 (495.8 kgf/m) was significantly greater than that of the other techniques, followed by Group 4 (369.7 kgf/m), Group 3 (225.7 kgf/m), and Group 1 (200.1 kgf/m). These results may be helpful to surgeons in deciding which core suture technique to use in association with the cross-stitch epitenon suture.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Sapporo Medical University, Japan.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aoki
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ito
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wada
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ooyama
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004285:Dogs; D008422:Materials Testing; D013536:Suture Techniques; D013537:Sutures; D013710:Tendons / Q000601:surgery; D013718:Tensile Strength