An ex vivo biomechanical comparison of two suture materials and two pattern combinations for equine superficial digital flexor tendon tenorrhaphy

Abstract

Objective: To compare biomechanical characteristics of three-loop pulley (3LP) pattern versus Bunnell technique (BT) using polydioxanone (PDS) suture; to determine the influence of polyester tape (PT) versus PDS on the BT for equine superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) tenorrhaphy; to compare BT with PT versus 3LP with PDS. Study Design: Ex vivo biomechanical study. Sample Population: Forty equine forelimb SDFT. Methods: Two experiments were performed: (1) 10 SDFT pairs were repaired with 3LP or BT using PDS; (2) 10 SDFT pairs were repaired with PDS or PT using BT. Load at failure, mode of failure, load at 2 mm gap, and gap at failure were obtained using a material testing machine. Results: In experiment 1, 3LP + PDS1 had higher loads at failure (p