Ex vivo mechanical testing of various suture patterns for use in tendon plating.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the influence of suture patterns on resistance to gap formation after tendon plating STUDY

DESIGN

Ex vivo study SAMPLE POPULATION: Suspensory ligament and superficial and deep digital flexor tendons harvested from 16 neonatal cadaver foal limbs.

METHODS

Each tendon/ligament from a given limb was randomly assigned to one of three treatment groups consisting of a 7-hole veterinary cuttable plate fixed with alternating simple interrupted, figure-8, or hybrid suture patterns. The constructs were distracted at a rate of 1.0 mm/s to failure, as determined by the formation of a 1 mm gap for initial failure and a 3 mm gap for ultimate failure. The mode of failure was also recorded.

RESULTS

Constructs prepared with hybrid and figure-8 patterns sustained over 2× higher (p < .01) forces before gap formation compared to those prepared with a simple interrupted pattern. No difference was identified between tendons whose plate was secured with hybrid or figure-8 suture patterns. Mode of failure between groups did not differ.

CONCLUSION

The figure-8 and hybrid patterns described herein improved the resistance to gap formation of plated tendons compared to an alternating simple interrupted pattern described previously.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Figure-8 and hybrid patterns should be considered over simple interrupted patterns to improve resistance to gap formation in horses undergoing tendon plating.