Effect of a continuous epitendinous suture as adjunct to three-loop pulley and locking-loop patterns for flexor tendon repair in a canine model

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of combining a continuous epitendinous suture with three-loop pulley (3LP) and locking-loop (LL) core patterns for flexor tendon repair. STUDY DESIGN: Ex vivo biomechanical study. SAMPLE POPULATION: Seventy-two cadaveric superficial digital flexor musculotendon (SDFT) units. METHODS: Tendons were divided into four groups (n = 18/group). After sharp transection, SDFT were repaired with 3LP, LL, 3LP + epitendinous (E), or LL + E suture patterns. After preloading, repaired constructs were tested to failure. Video data acquisition allowed evaluation of failure mode and quantitation of gap formation. Yield, peak, and failure force were measured from force-displacement data. Significance was set at P < .05. RESULTS: Mode of failure did not differ between repairs with or without an epitendinous suture (P = .255). Gap formation was best prevented with 3LP compared with LL when used alone (P = .001). Mean yield force for 3LP, LL, 3LP + E, and LL + E were 91.4 N ± 25.4, 61.3 N ± 18.4, 195.2 N ± 66.0, 165.3 N ± 46.8, respectively. Tenorrhaphies combined with an epitendinous suture achieved higher yield (P < .0001), peak (P < .0001), and failure forces (P < .0001), without gapping between tendon ends. CONCLUSION: Addition of an epitendinous suture eliminated gapping between tendon ends until failure and increased resistance to loads tolerated at the repair site. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The addition of an epitendinous suture may increase the strength of tendon repairs and resistance to gap formation over core suture use alone. The influence of epitendinous suture placement on tendinous healing and blood supply warrants in-vivo testing.