Influence of suture material on biomechanical and histological indicators of Achilles tendon heeling in rabbits.

This study shows on a rabbit model in vivo the importance of suture material elasticity in Achilles tendon healing. Tendon reconstruction was performed on 30 rabbits divided into three groups of 10 animals, according to the suture material. Tendons were sutured by the Krackow suture. Steel wire as a stiff material, polypropylene as a plastic material, and polybutester as a material that shows elasticity and resistance to deformities were used. In all the animals the unoperated, contra lateral limb served as control. A servohidraulic jack was used to set a maximum loading capacity until the breaking point (Fmax) and drawing ability (A). The breaking strength of tendons reconstructed by polybutester was not statistically different in comparison to the breaking strength of control tendons, but were significantly higher in comparison to tendons sutured by wire or polypropylene. Different histological staining methods were used to show the parameters of healing tendon tissue. The collagen fiber structure and arrangement, and the cellularity of tendon scar tissue sutured by polybutester are more similar to those of the control tendon. Achilles tendon suturing with polybutester is beneficial for tendon healing, so its clinical use is recommended.
Ova studija na modelu kunića in vivo istražuje značenje elastičnosti šivaćega materijala u cijeljenju petne tetive. Šivanje tetiva izvedeno je na 30 kunića podijeljenih u 3 skupine po 10 životinja, s obzirom na upotrijebljen šivaći materijal. Uspoređeni su čelična žica kao krut materijal, polipropilen kao plastičan materijal i polibutester kao elastičan materijal otporan na deformacije. Servohidraulična kidalica upotrijebljena je za određivanje sile kidanja i istezljivosti tetiva. Sila kidanja tetiva rekonstruiranih polibutesterom nije se statistički značajno razlikovala od sila tetiva kontrolne skupine, ali je bila značajno veća u odnosu na sile kidanja tetiva sašivenih čeličnom žicom ili polipropilenom. Različite metode histološkoga bojenja rabljene su za prikazivanje pokazatelja cijeljenja tetiva. Građa kolagenih vlakana, uređenost i brojnost stanica ožiljkastoga tkiva tetiva sašivenih polibutesterom sličnija je tetivama kontrolne skupine. Šivanje tetive polibutesterom učinkovito je za njezino cijeljenje, te je stoga preporučljiv u kliničkoj uporabi.