[Tendon suture in the tendinous sheath--experimental study].

Tendon sutures were carried out in the flexor digitorum longus tendon 54 rabbits within the osteofibrous canal at the level of the ankle joint. The suture technique of BUNNELL, LENGEMANN and KESSLER were compared. The adhesions and the vascular pattern in the suture are were observed by means of idian ink injection, microdissection and in thin sections cleared with methyl salicylate. Tendon healing with only minimal adhesions seems to be possible provided that the gap between the tendon stumps is rather small. It originates from the vascularised epitenon of the tendon stumps. In tendon sutures after KESSLER the gap averaged only 2,5 mm whereas the average after BUNNELL suture was 6,7 mm, after LENGEMANN suture 9,8 mm. Early mobilisation of the tendons without tension according to the technique of KLEINERT seems to be suitable to minimise adhesions in the suture area.