TY  - JOUR
A1  - Schmidt, Karsten
A1  - Jordan, Martin C.
A1  - Hölscher-Doht, Stefanie
A1  - Jakubietz, Michael G.
A1  - Jakubietz, Rafael G.
A1  - Meffert, Rainer H.
T1  - Suture material for flexor tendon repair: 3–0 V-Loc versus 3–0 Stratafix in a biomechanical comparison ex vivo
N2  - Background

Barbed suture material offers the possibility of knotless flexor tendon repair, as suggested in an increasing number of biomechanical studies. There are currently two different absorbable barbed suture products available, V-Loc™ and Stratafix™, and both have not been compared to each other with regard to flexor tendon repair. The purpose of this study was to evaluate both suture materials for primary stability under static and cyclic loading in a biomechanical ex vivo model.

Methods

Forty fresh porcine flexor digitorum profundus tendons were randomized in two groups. A four-strand modified Kessler suture technique was used to repair the tendon either with a 3–0 V-Loc™ or 3–0 Stratafix™ without a knot. Parameters of interest were mode of failure, 2-mm gap formation force, displacement, stiffness and maximum load under static and cyclic testing.

Results

The maximum load was 42.3 ± 7.2 for the Stratafix™ group and 50.7 ± 8.8 N for the V-Loc™ group. Thus, the ultimate tensile strength was significantly higher for V-Loc™ (p < 0.05). The 2-mm gap occurred at 24.8 ± 2.04 N in the Stratafix™ group in comparison to 26.5 ± 2.12 N in the V-Loc™ group (n.s.). Displacement was 2.65 ± 0.56 mm in the V-Loc™ group and 2.71 ± 0.59 mm in the Stratafix™ group (n.s.). Stiffness was 4.24 ± 0.68 (N/mm) in the V-Loc™ group and 3.85 ± 0.55 (N/mm) the Stratafix™ group (n.s.). Those measured differences were not significant.

Conclusion

V-Loc™ demonstrates a higher maximum load in tendon reconstruction. The differences in 2-mm gap formation force, displacement and stiffness were not significant. Hereby, the V-Loc™ has an advantage when used as unidirectional barbed suture for knotless flexor tendon repair.
KW  - Barbed suture
KW  - Barbed suture material
KW  - Flexor tendon repair
KW  - Knotless tendon repair
KW  - Stratafix
KW  - V-Loc
Y1  - 2014
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-110419
ER  -