The Impact of Suture Caliber and Looped Configurations on the Suture-Tendon Interface in Zone II Flexor Tendon Repair. 2019

Derek T Bernstein, and Jamie J Alexander, and Nancy J Petersen, and Bradley S Lambert, and Philip C Noble, and David T Netscher
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the impact of suture caliber and looped configurations on the integrity of 4-strand modified Kessler zone II flexor tendon repairs during progressive cyclic loading. METHODS Seventy-two flexor digitorum profundus tendons from 18 fresh human cadaver hands were divided into 4 repair groups. Thirty-six matched tendons underwent repair using either a 4-0 looped or 4-0 single-stranded suture, and an additional 36 tendons underwent 3-0 looped or 3-0 single-stranded repairs. Repair strength was tested by progressive cyclic loading. The force generating 2-mm gap formation, ultimate failure, and the mechanism of failure were recorded for each test. The impact of looped versus single-stranded configurations and the effect of tendon cross-sectional area on repair integrity were analyzed for each suture caliber. RESULTS There was no statistically significant difference between groups regarding the force to 2-mm gap formation or ultimate failure, and all values exceeded the minimum threshold of 27 N required to withstand an early active range of motion rehabilitation protocol. The use of a 3-0 caliber suture resulted in a significantly higher proportion of repairs failing by suture pullout through the tendon substance, including 63.5% of looped and 38.9% of single-stranded core sutures. By comparison, this occurred in 11.1% of 4-0 looped and 0% of 4-0 single-stranded sutures. Larger tendon cross-sectional areas were associated with more robust repairs, particularly in the 3-0 looped group. CONCLUSIONS In a human cadaver flexor tendon repair model, there was no significant difference in the mean force to failure between all 4 flexor tendon repair constructs under progressive cyclic loading. However, the 3-0 caliber suture failed more frequently by suture pullout, particularly with the use of a looped suture. CONCLUSIONS Four-strand flexor tendon repairs using a 3-0 caliber suture are more prone to early failure by suture pullout under progressive cyclic loading compared with a 4-0 caliber suture.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D002102 Cadaver A dead body, usually a human body. Corpse,Cadavers,Corpses
D005383 Finger Injuries General or unspecified injuries involving the fingers. Injuries, Finger,Finger Injury,Injury, Finger
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D001696 Biomechanical Phenomena The properties, processes, and behavior of biological systems under the action of mechanical forces. Biomechanics,Kinematics,Biomechanic Phenomena,Mechanobiological Phenomena,Biomechanic,Biomechanic Phenomenas,Phenomena, Biomechanic,Phenomena, Biomechanical,Phenomena, Mechanobiological,Phenomenas, Biomechanic
D013314 Stress, Mechanical A purely physical condition which exists within any material because of strain or deformation by external forces or by non-uniform thermal expansion; expressed quantitatively in units of force per unit area. Mechanical Stress,Mechanical Stresses,Stresses, Mechanical
D013536 Suture Techniques Techniques for securing together the edges of a wound, with loops of thread or similar materials (SUTURES). Suture Technics,Suture Technic,Suture Technique,Technic, Suture,Technics, Suture,Technique, Suture,Techniques, Suture
D013537 Sutures Materials used in closing a surgical or traumatic wound. (From Dorland, 28th ed) Staples, Surgical,Surgical Staples,Staple, Surgical,Surgical Staple,Suture
D013708 Tendon Injuries Injuries to the fibrous cords of connective tissue which attach muscles to bones or other structures. Injuries, Tendon,Injury, Tendon,Tendon Injury
D013718 Tensile Strength The maximum stress a material subjected to a stretching load can withstand without tearing. (McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms, 5th ed, p2001) Strength, Tensile,Strengths, Tensile,Tensile Strengths

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