Evolution of the vascular pattern in deep flexor tendon healing. An experimental study in dogs

RESUMO

The aim of this study was to evaluate the vascular kinetics of the flexor digitorum profundus tendon (FDPT) healing, during recovery after tenotomy and tenorraphy in dogs. Twenty-two male or female mongrel dogs were at separated random in five groups. The TFDP of the left second and fifth toes of the forelimb were transected in both avascular and vascular areas and repaired using the modified Kessler technique. The animals received daily controlled passive motion treatment for seven (Group 1), 15 (Group 2), 30 (Group 3), 45 (Group 4) and 60 (Group 6) days when the animals were anesthetized and the tendons were collected for morphometric evaluation of the neovascularization. The contraleteral right forelimb, which had not been operated on, served as control for each animal. The vessels were marked by angiographic technique using Chine Ink. The vascular net area of both control and tested flexor tendons were morphometrically compared. The results allowed the following conclusions; there was siginificant difference between the vascular area demarcation of both tendon control in comparison to the operated. The difference in vascular demarcation was accentuated with time. The neovascularization initiated from the vascular zone to the point of the tendon lesion.