Histologic evidence of intrinsic flexor tendon repair in various experimental animals. An in vitro study.

Rabbit, dog, chicken, and monkey flexor tendon explants were cultivated in a cell-free medium for six weeks. Flexor tendons have the intrinsic capacity to participate in the repair process. "Capping" of the lacerated end of the tendon occurred by proliferation and migration of cells, from either the epitenon or endotenon cell layer.