Flexor tendon suture methods: a quantitative analysis of suture material within the repair site.

This study compared the cross-sectional area and volume occupied by suture material at the repair site in three common methods of flexor tendon repair. A total of 51 human cadaveric tendons were studied. Zone II flexor digitorum profundus tendon lacerations were created and then repaired using the techniques described by Kessler, Tajima, and Savage. Quantitative cross-sectional area and volumetric measurements of suture material within each repair site were determined using a digital image analysis system. The Tajima repair occupied 27% of the tendon area at the repair site, while the Savage and Kessler repairs occupied 18% and 2%, respectively.