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Published in: International Orthopaedics 9/2012

01-09-2012 | Original Paper

Initial Achilles tendon repair strength—synthesized biomechanical data from 196 cadaver repairs

Authors: Patrick Sadoghi, Claudio Rosso, Victor Valderrabano, Andreas Leithner, Patrick Vavken

Published in: International Orthopaedics | Issue 9/2012

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Abstract

Purpose

The study aim was to describe what kind of operative technique performs best with respect to initial strength after the surgical repair of acute Achilles tendon ruptures.

Methods

We performed a systematic search of the keywords “Achilles tendon AND (suture strength OR biomechanics) AND (cadaver NOT animal)” in the online databases PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, and the Cochrane Library. We included studies that employed open, mini-open, or percutaneous Achilles tendon repair in human cadavers, and assessed some measure of tensile strength as a primary outcome.

Results

Our search produced 11 relevant papers reporting results for Kessler, Bunnell, and Krackow sutures in open repair, as well as the Achillon device, the Ma-Griffith repair technique, the triple bundle technique and the “giftbox” technique. The weighted tensile strengths ranged from 81 to 453 N (mean 222.7 N) with the Triple Bundle technique in combination with # 2 Ethibond performing best with a mean of 453 N.

Conclusions

Due to the small sample sizes, different study designs, and heterogeneity of strength measurement techniques, definite recommendations on surgical technique cannot be made but presented information might help in the decision making process for foot and ankle surgeons.
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Metadata
Title
Initial Achilles tendon repair strength—synthesized biomechanical data from 196 cadaver repairs
Authors
Patrick Sadoghi
Claudio Rosso
Victor Valderrabano
Andreas Leithner
Patrick Vavken
Publication date
01-09-2012
Publisher
Springer-Verlag
Published in
International Orthopaedics / Issue 9/2012
Print ISSN: 0341-2695
Electronic ISSN: 1432-5195
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00264-012-1533-6

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