title: Biomechanical testing of a novel suture pattern for repair of equine tendon lacerations.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare in vitro biomechanical properties of a novel suture pattern to a current standard for primary repair of equine superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) laceration.
  
  
  METHODS
  In vitro randomized, paired design.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cadaveric equine forelimb SDFT (n = 24).
  
  
  METHODS
  The 3-loop pulley (3LP) and 6-strand Savage (SSS) suture patterns were applied to transected equine SDFT. Ultimate failure load, stiffness, mode of failure, and load required to form a 3-mm gap were obtained using a materials testing system and synchronized high-speed video analysis. Statistical comparisons were made using Student's t-test, with significance set at P < .05.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The SSS repair failed at a higher ultimate load (421.1 N ± 47.6) than the 3LP repair (193.7 N ± 43.0; P < .001). There was no significant difference in stiffness (P = .99). Failure mode was suture breakage for all SSS repair and suture pull through for all 3LP repair. The maximum load to create a 3-mm gap in the SSS repair (102.0 N ± 22.4) was not significantly different from the 3LP repair (109.9 N ± 16.0; P = .27).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SSS tenorrhaphy has improved strength and resistance to pull through compared with 3LP for equine SDFT in a single load-to-failure test. Load required to form a 3-mm gap was not significantly different between SSS and 3LP.
authors.affiliation: Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center, Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, Leesburg, VA 20176, USA.
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Everett
authors.forename: Jennifer G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Barrett
authors.forename: Jeffrey
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Morelli
authors.forename: Raffaella
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: DeVita
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D002102:Cadaver; D005260:Female; D005552:Forelimb; D006736:Horses / Q000293:injuries*; D022125:Lacerations / Q000628:therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D013536:Suture Techniques; D013708:Tendon Injuries / Q000628:therapy*