Abstract
In performing the flexor tendon repair, peripheral suture is essential to improve the sufficient strength and to accomplish the early active mobilization of repaired flexor tendons. It has been reported the interlocking cross-stitch peripheral suture is increased the strength. The purpose of this study was to evaluate about various interlocking cross-stitch peripheral suture under cyclic loading conditions. Artificial rolls, Parotisrolls^<TM> were used as the experimental model in this study. We sutured the end of the two artificial rolls using a combination of peripheral sutures. All pairs of the artificial roll tendon model were sutured using only peripheral sutures with 6-0 Polypropylene. The suture bites were placed 2mm, 3mm, 4mm, 5mm, 6mm, 8mm and 12mm away from the end of the roll. Each bite was approximately 1mm in depth and the size of transverse segments of each cross-stitch suture was 4mm. An initial cyclic load of 10 N for 500 cycles was applied and increased by 5 N for an additional 500 cycles at each new load until rupture. In result, the interlocking cross-stitch peripheral suture that the suture bite distance is long, improved the strength of the specimen. However, in the face of realization of smooth motion after flexor tendon repair, suture bite of 8mm or more is unrealistic. Therefore, it was considered to be valid suture bite of 8mm from 5mm.
