Bioabsorbable poly-L/D-lactide (PLDLA) 96/4 triple-stranded bound suture in the modified Kessler repair: an ex vivo static and cyclic tensile testing study in a porcine extensor tendon model.

ABSTRACT

Previously the biomechanical properties of the bioabsorbable poly-L /D -lactide (PLDLA) 96/4 suture were found suitable for flexor tendon repair. In this study, three PLDLA suture strands were bound together parallel to each other side-by-side to form a triple-stranded bound suture and the modified Kessler tendon repair was performed. The biomechanical properties of the PLDLA repair in porcine extensor tendons ex vivo were investigated with static and cyclic tensile testing. In both biomechanical tests, the strength of the PLDLA repair achieved the estimated forces needed to withstand active mobilization.