Flexor tendon repair using a stainless steel internal anchor. Biomechanical study on human cadaver tendons.
We have developed a stainless steel internal tendon anchor that is used to strengthen a tendon repair. This study tested its use in vitro to produce a repair that can withstand the tensile strength demands of early active flexion. Fresh human cadaver flexor digitorum profundus tendons were harvested, divided, and then repaired using four different techniques: Kessler, Becker or Savage stitches, or the internal tendon anchor. The internal splint repairs demonstrated a 99-270% increase in mean maximal linear tensile strength and a 49-240% increase in mean ultimate tensile strength over the other repairs. It is hoped that this newly developed internal anchor will provide a repair that will be strong enough to allow immediate active range of motion.
Gordon
L
L
Hand and Microsurgery Research Laboratory, California Pacific Medical Center, San Francisco, USA.
Tolar
M
M
Rao
K T
KT
Ritchie
R O
RO
Rabinowitz
S
S
Lamb
R P
RP
D002102:Cadaver; D005384:Finger Joint / Q000502:physiology*; D005385:Fingers / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology; D013165:Splints; D013193:Stainless Steel; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013536:Suture Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation*; D013537:Sutures; D013710:Tendons / Q000601:surgery*; D013718:Tensile Strength
D013193:Stainless Steel