2016 Articles
Enhanced Zone II Flexor Tendon Repair through a New Half Hitch Loop Suture Configuration
This study evaluated the impact of a new half hitch loop suture configuration on flexor tendon repair mechanics. Cadaver canine flexor digitorum profundus tendons were repaired with 4- or 8-strands, 4–0 or 3–0 suture, with and without half hitch loops. An additional group underwent repair with half hitch loops but without the terminal knot. Half hitch loops improved the strength of 8-strand repairs by 21% when 4–0, and 33% when 3–0 suture was used, and caused a shift in failure mode from suture pullout to suture breakage. 8-strand repairs with half hitch loops but without a terminal knot produced equivalent mechanical properties to those without half hitch loops but with a terminal knot. 4-strand repairs were limited by the strength of the suture in all groups and, as a result, the presence of half hitch loops did not alter the mechanical properties. Overall, half hitch loops improved repair mechanics, allowing failure strength to reach the full capability of suture strength. Improving the mechanical properties of flexor tendon repair with half hitch loops has the potential to reduce the postoperative risk of gap formation and catastrophic rupture in the early postoperative period.
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Files
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journal.pone.0153822.PDF application/pdf 896 KB Download File
Also Published In
- Title
- PLoS ONE
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0153822
More About This Work
- Academic Units
- Orthopaedic Surgery
- Publisher
- Public Library of Science
- Published Here
- May 26, 2016