Comparison of Clinical, Biomechanical, and Histopathological Effects of Various Suture Techniques on Repair of Tendon Rupture by using Autograft

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of four different suture techniques in the treatment of experimentally modelled tendon injuries with tissue loss with autograft and grafting applications in rabbits. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study was performed on 30 male mature (2-year-old) New Zealand rabbits with mean body weight of 3.1 kg, divided into three equal groups. A graft measuring 1 cm in length was collected from the m. tibialis cranialis of each rabbit under general anaesthesia. The graft collected from the right tendon was transplanted into the left tendon, and the graft from the left tendon was transplanted into the right tendon. In all groups, a simple interrupted suture was placed on the left tendon as control, a Bunnell-Mayer suture was placed on the right tendon in group I, a Locking-Loop suture in group II, and a Horizontal U suture in group III. Both hindlimbs were bandaged for four weeks. The tendons were assessed biomechanically and histopathologically. RESULTS: According to the results of the tensile testing, the maximum durability of the techniques ranked as follows: Bunnell-Mayer, Horizontal U, Locking-Loop, and control groups. CONCLUSION: The use of autografts was a good alternative for the treatment of tendon ruptures with tissue loss. Furthermore, even though there were no clinical or histopathological differences, the suture technique can be chosen based on the results of the tensile test.