Objective: To investigate the characteristics of work needed to release adhesion in the early stage of flexor tendon healing.
Methods: Eighty-four profoundus flexor tendons of the 3rd toe of Sanhuang chicken were severed and repaired by either Modified Kessler technique or Tsuge technique randomly. At 0, 1, 4, 7, 10, 14, 21 d after the operation, 6 tendons from each repair technique group were harvested and tested by biomechanical test machine. An elongation force-elongation distance curve was obtained and work of adhesion release was calculated in this curve. Whether adhesion band had been released or not was confirmed by gross inspection immediately after the test.
Results: Work of adhesion release: this work significantly increased at the 7th day in Modified Kessler group and at the 10th day in Tsuge group. Modified Kessler group was significantly higher than Tsuge group at the 7th day. At the 21st day after operation, adhesion could not be effectively released by full range excursion of flexor tendon profoundus.
Conclusion: Work of adhesion release begins to increase significantly since the 7th approximately 10th day postoperatively. At the 21st day after the operation, adhesion could not be fully released by full range of flexor tendon profoundus flexion.