Canine cadaveric study of flexor tendon repair using tendon splint: tensile strength and the work of flexion.

A total of 128 flexor tendon repairs in zone II were performed with various suture techniques using a canine cadaver model to determine the tensile strength, gap strength, and resistance to tendon gliding as measured by the work of flexion. The ultimate tensile strength in kilogram force (kgf) following tendon laceration and repair was the greatest after repair by the Savage technique (4.84 kgf) and the dorsal tendon splint technique (4.89 kgf), while the standard Kessler technique showed a strength of only 1.48 kgf. The greatest gap strength values were also obtained for the Savage and dorsal tendon splint techniques. The work of flexion increase was the greatest at 85.5% after repair using a mesh sleeve technique. While, the Savage and dorsal tendon splint techniques showed an increase of 24.3% and 25.1% with no significant difference compared to the other technique studied. Considering the values of these biomechanical parameters, we believe that the best flexor tendon repair techniques in the canine model are the Savage and dorsal tendon splint.