Nickel-Titanium Wire in Circumferential Suture of a Flexor Tendon Repair: A Comparison to Polypropylene

Purpose Nickel-titanium (NiTi) has been proposed as an alternative material for flexor tendon core suture. To our knowledge, its suitability as a circumferential suture of flexor tendon repair has not been investigated before. The purpose of this ex vivo study was to investigate the biomechanical properties of NiTi circumferential repairs and to compare them with commonly used polypropylene. Methods Forty porcine flexor tendons were cut and repaired by simple running or interlocking mattress technique using 100 mu m NiTi wire or 6-0 polypropylene. Results The NiTi circumferential repairs showed superior stiffness, gap resistance, and load to failure when compared to polypropylene repairs with both techniques. Conclusions Nickel-titanium wire seems to be a potential material for circumferential repair of flexor tendons. (J Hand Surg 2010;35A:1160-1164. Copyright (C) 2010 by the American Society for Surgery of the Hand. All rights reserved.)