Growth of autografted tendons: an experimental study in vivo.

The growth of transplanted tendons was investigated in 54 young chickens. The transplantations were done within the first week of life. The flexor digitorum profundus tendon in the digital sheath of the right third digit was replaced by a graft taken from the same tendon of the left third digit. The growth of the grafted tendons was measured and compared with control tendons at the first, fifth, tenth, fifteenth, and twentieth week after the operation. Five weeks after operation the grafted tendons showed the same growth rate as the control tendons. Although tendon growth was retarded compared with the control tendons 15 weeks after operation, it was not statistically different at 20 weeks.