Elongation of the plantaris longus tendon after surgical repair in the rabbit.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the elongation of the plantaris longus tendon in the rabbit after surgical repair. In 24 New Zealand white rabbits tenotomy of the plantaris longus tendon in the left hindlimb was performed. Surgical repair was undertaken with a criss-cross suture. The leg was immobilized in a long leg splint of Hexilite. The elongation of the tendon was measured by a photographic technique after preparation of the tendon. The elongation gradually increased during the observation time (r 0.03). No biphasic separation was found as indicated by other authors. For the clinical application of these findings further investigations are needed.