Asymmetric 6-Strand Flexor Tendon Repair – Biomechanical Analysis Using Barbed Suture

Abstract

Background: This study investigates the biomechanical performance of the Asymmetric flexor tendon repair technique using barbed suture. The Asymmetric repair technique using monofilament nylon suture was previously reported to have a higher tensile strength than the modified Lim-Tsai repair technique, but its repair stiffness and load to gap force were significantly lower. There is hence an unmet need to improve this technique and the substitution of nylon suture with barbed sutures may be the solution. Methods: Two groups consisting of 10 porcine tendons each were repaired with the six-strand Asymmetric repair technique using V-Loc® 3-0 and Supramid® 4-0 respectively. The repairs were subjected to a mechanical tester for static testing. The ultimate tensile strength, load to 2 mm gap force, repair stiffness, time taken to complete a repair and failure mechanism of the repairs were recorded and analyzed. Results: All the repairs using V-Loc® 3-0 sutures had significantly higher median values of ultimate tensile strength (64.1 N; 56.9 N), load to 2 mm gap force (39.2 N; 19.7 N), repair stiffness (6.4 N/mm; 4.7 N/mm) and time taken to complete a repair (9.4 mins; 7.7 mins). All the repairs using V-Loc® sutures failed by suture breakage while 80% of repairs using Supramid® sutures failed by suture pullout. Conclusions: The use of the barbed sutures in the Asymmetric repair technique, whilst more time consuming, has shown promising improvement to its biomechanical performance (i.e. better ultimate tensile strength, stiffness and resistance to gap formation).