title: Core weave versus Krackow technique for Achilles tendon repair: a biomechanical study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The Krackow stitch, commonly used for Achilles tendon repair, leaves the bulk of the stitch on the surface of the tendon as a possible nidus for adhesion. The proposed core weave stitch leaves a minimal amount of suture material on the tendon surface. The functional strength of the core weave stitch compared with the Krackow and the optimal number of throws, or stitches crossing the surface of the tendon, with this stitch are not known.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-one matched pairs of fresh-frozen cadaveric Achilles tendons were transected and randomly assigned to receive a 4-stranded stitch, either Krackow or core weave, with three, five, or seven throws. The samples were cyclically loaded to 75, 125 and 175 N for 1000 cycles at each load until failure, defined as 5 mm of elongation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No significant difference in failure load was observed between the Krackow and core weave groups at any number of throws or within the groups based on number of throws. Failure load for the different number of throws in the Krackow group approached significance (p = 0.10), with higher failure load with three throws.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Functional strength of the core weave stitch and the Krackow stitch did not differ between groups with three, five, and seven throws. There was no significant difference in strength based on throws in either group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The proposed core weave stitch provides functional strength similar to that of the Krackow stitch for tendon repair with reduced suture material on the tendon surface.
authors.affiliation: Union Memorial Hospital Orthopaedics, Baltimore, MD 21211, USA.
authors.forename: Yuhwan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hermida
authors.forename: Kacey L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: White
authors.forename: Brent G
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Parks
authors.forename: Lyn M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Camire
authors.forename: Camire
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Guyton
mesh_terms: D000125:Achilles Tendon / Q000293:injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D002102:Cadaver; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011897:Random Allocation; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013536:Suture Techniques