title: The mechanical interaction between three geometric types of nylon core suture and a running epitenon suture in repair of porcine flexor tendons.
abstract: The effect of core suture geometry on the mechanical interaction with the epitenon suture in terms of gap prevention, failure strength and mode of failure was investigated in a flexor tendon repair model. A total of 48 porcine flexor tendons were repaired using three techniques with distinct core suture geometry: single Kessler; double Kessler; and cruciate repair. Cyclic linear testing was carried out with and without a simple running epitenon suture. At failure load the epitenon suture reduced gapping by 87% in the double Kessler, 42% in the single Kessler and 15% in cruciate repairs. It increased the strengths of the repairs by 58%, 33% and 24%, respectively. Kessler repairs failed mainly by suture rupture, with and without epitenon suture, but cruciate repairs failed mainly by suture pull-out. The epitenon suture did not have a significant mechanical effect on the three repairs. Rather, its effect varied with the core suture geometry. The greatest effect occurred with double Kessler repairs.
authors: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and Hand Surgery, University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. thdewit@me.com
authors: T
authors: T
authors: de Wit
authors: E T
authors: ET
authors: Walbeehm
authors: S E R
authors: SE
authors: Hovius
authors: D A
authors: DA
authors: McGrouther
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D009757:Nylons; D013536:Suture Techniques; D013537:Sutures; D013552:Swine; D013710:Tendons / Q000601:surgery*; D013718:Tensile Strength
chemical_list: D009757:Nylons
keywords: Core suture; epitenon suture; flexor tendon; mechanical; porcine; tendon repair