Tenorrhaphy in horses: comparison of the mechanical properties of two different suture patterns and suture materials

Abstract

Traumatic distal limb injuries resulting in tendon rupture are common in equine practice. Several complications have been associated with tendon repair in horses. The aim of this study was to compare the biomechanical properties of two tenorrhaphy techniques using two different suture materials. Twenty-four equine deep digital flexor tendon specimens were transected and sutured with the double locking loop pattern (polypropylene, group 1; polyglactin, group 2) or the single locking loop pattern with peripheral epitendon suture (polypropylene, group 3; polyglactin, group 4). Specimens were submitted to mechanical strain testing. Maximum, minimum and peak strain, and maximum, minimum and peak gap formation were evaluated. ANOVA and the non-parametric Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney tests were used (P<0.05). Higher maximum strength values were documented in group 3. Minimum strength values were higher in groups 3 and 4 than 1 and 2, but did not differ significantly between groups 3 and 4. Peak strength values were higher in groups 1 and 2 than 4, but did not differ significantly from group 3. Gap formation was greater in groups 1 and 2 than 3 and 4. The single locking loop pattern with epitendon suture performed with polypropylene had greater resilience, yielded lesser gap formation (3 mm) and is the pattern of choice for clinical application based on the results of this study.