Barbed Suture Tenorrhaphy: An Ex Vivo Biomechanical Analysis

Abstract

In an ex vivo model of flexor tenorrhaphy, a three-strand barbed suture technique achieved tensile strength comparable to that of four-strand cruciate repairs and demonstrated significantly less repair-site bunching. A six-strand barbed suture technique demonstrated increased tensile strength compared with four-strand cruciate controls and significantly less repair-site bunching. Barbed suture repair may offer several advantages in flexor tenorrhaphy, and further in vivo testing is warranted.