title: Biomechanical evaluation of a non-locking pre-manufactured loop suture technique compared to a three-loop pulley suture in a canine calcaneus tendon avulsion model.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this cadaveric study was to compare the strength of a non-locking pre-manufactured loop (SpeedWhip™ [SW]) suture pattern using Fiberwire® with the three-loop pulley (TLP) suture pattern using polypropylene for the surgical repair of canine calcaneal tendon avulsion injuries.
  
  
  METHODS
  In vitro biomechanical study using 22 paired tendons collected from 11 canine cadavers. Paired tendons were repaired with either a SW suture pattern using Fiberloop® suture or a TLP suture pattern using polypropylene suture. Tensile loads required to create a 1 mm gap, 3 mm gap, and construct failure were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean loads to achieve a 1 mm gap in the TLP and SW constructs were not significantly different. Gap formation at 3 mm occurred at significantly lower loads for the SW (106.4 ± 21.5N) than for the TLP (127.2 ± 27.5N) (p = 0.05). The mean loads to construct failure for the TLP (172.8 ± 39.4N) and SW (131.3 ± 34.3N) were significantly different (p = 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The TLP with polypropylene suture is superior to the SW using Fiberloop® at resistance to 3 mm gap formation.
authors.forename: Anna E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Dunlap
authors.affiliation: Stanley Kim BVSc, MS, DACVS, University of Florida, College of Veterinary Medicine, Small Animal Surgery,2015 SW 16th Ave, Gainesville, Florida 32610, United States, E-mail: stankim@ufl.edu.
authors.forename: Stanley E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: W Thomas
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: McNicholas
mesh_terms: D000125:Achilles Tendon / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery*; D000818:Animals; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D004285:Dogs / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery; D000071562:Fractures, Avulsion / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D020959:Polyethylene; D011126:Polypropylenes; D013536:Suture Techniques / Q000662:veterinary*
chemical_list: D011126:Polypropylenes; D020959:Polyethylene
keywords: Achilles tendon; SpeedWhip™; tenorrhaphy; three-loop pulley