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Journal of Orthopaedics and Traumatology

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Open Access 01-09-2015 | Original Article

Barbed suture vs conventional tenorrhaphy: biomechanical analysis in an animal model

Authors: A. Clemente, F. Bergamin, C. Surace, E. Lepore, N. Pugno

Published in: Journal of Orthopaedics and Traumatology | Issue 3/2015

Abstract

Background

The advantages of barbed suture for tendon repair could be to eliminate the need for a knot and to better distribute the load throughout the tendon so as to reduce the deformation at the repair site. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the breaking force and the repair site deformation of a new barbed tenorrhaphy technique in an animal model.

Materials and methods

Sixty porcine flexor tendons were divided randomly into three groups and repaired with one of the following techniques: a new 4-strand barbed technique using 2/0 polypropylene Quill™ SRS or 2/0 polydioxanone Quill™ SRS and a modified Kessler technique using 3/0 prolene. All tendons underwent mechanical testing to assess the 2-mm gap formation force, the breaking force and the mode of failure. The percentage change in tendon cross-sectional area before and after repair was calculated.

Results

The two-sample Student t-test demonstrated a significant increase in 2-mm gap formation force and in breaking force with barbed sutures, independently from suture material, when compared to traditional Kessler suture. Concerning the tendon profile, we registered less bunching at the repair site in the two barbed groups compared with the Kessler group.

Conclusions

This study confirms the promising results achieved in previous ex vivo studies about the use of barbed suture in flexor tendon repair. In our animal model, tenorrhaphy with Quill™ SRS suture guarantees a breaking force of repair that exceeds the 40–50 N suggested as sufficient to initiate early active motion, and a smoother profile at the repair site.

Level of evidence Not applicable.

The articles cited in the literature improperly use the term “tensile strength”, which is force per unit area, as they present the measured data in Newtons (the SI derived unit of force). Therefore, in this paper only the correct term of “breaking force” will be utilized.

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Title: Barbed suture vs conventional tenorrhaphy: biomechanical analysis in an animal model
Authors: A. Clemente
F. Bergamin
C. Surace
E. Lepore
N. Pugno
Publication date: 01-09-2015
Publisher: Springer International Publishing
Published in: Journal of Orthopaedics and Traumatology / Issue 3/2015
Print ISSN: 1590-9921
Electronic ISSN: 1590-9999
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10195-014-0333-8

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Barbed suture vs conventional tenorrhaphy: biomechanical analysis in an animal model

Abstract

Background

Materials and methods

Results

Conclusions

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Materials and methods

Results

Conclusions

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