Cunean tendon as a new donor for autologous superficial digital flexor tendon grafting in donkeys (Equus asinus)

The present experiment was performed to evaluate the autologous grafting of superficial digital flexor tendon with cunean tendon in donkeys. It was carried out on 24 adult donkeys equally divided into 2 groups. Full thickness tenectomy with suturing leaving a gap of 2 cm of the mid- metacarpal segment of the SDFT was performed in the control group. Full thickness tenectomy followed by grafting with cunean tendon was performed in the second group. Both groups were evaluated at 6, 12 and 24 weeks P.O.  No significant differences (P>0.05) was observed between the mean values of mid-metacarpal limb circumferences of both groups at all times of examination. The mean values of the dorsal fetlock angle showed non-significant differences (P>0.05) between both groups at all times of examination. At 12 weeks P.O., lameness was observed only in the control group. The sagittal gray-scale ultrasonic examinations showed that the grafted tendons had higher echogenicity than the control tendon and normal linear echoes, while the non-grafted tendons showed irregular linear echoes at 24 weeks P.O. The gross and histo-pathological examinations confirmed that the healing of the grafted SDFT has been better than the non-grafted tendons.