Tendon implantation into bone: an experimental study
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Updated: Jul 31, 2026
An Improved Mechanical Testing Method to Assess Bone-implant Anchorage
Published on: February 10, 2014
J R Jones1, J G Smibert, C J McCullough
1Northwick Park Hospital, Harrow, Middlesex.
Abstract:
We report the results of an experimental study to investigate the mechanical properties and histological structure of the tendon-bone junction following surgical implantation of tendon into bone in the rabbit. The results following tendon transfer and tendon grafting were compared. The normal four-zone tendon junction was not reproduced histologically, in either group. After 20 weeks, the mechanical strength of the tendon transfers had reached 60% of the controls and that of the tendon grafts 20% of the controls. Microangiography demonstrated that these differences were not related to the vascularisation of the tendon bone junction. The mechanical properties of the tendon-bone junction may be dependent more on the functional state of the implanted tendon than on its structure.
