Functional repair of rabbit gastrocnemius tendons using carbon fibers

The ability of carbon fibers to form a secure anastomosis with soft tissue will have an important bearing on any future clinical uses. A secure anastomosis in rabbit Achilles tendons has been observed for up to 12 weeks after operation using a locking-weave suture, without immobilization. Impaired function occurred from slippage of the carbon fibers, which began by six weeks after operation, and which increased progressively at 13 and 42 weeks after operation. Satisfactory results were obtained using a modified Bunnell suture (with immobilization) in which the free ends of the carbon fibers were glued together with bone cement. In another study, carbon fibers that were weaved through intact rabbit Achilles tendons did not attach to the tendons during the postoperative time interval studied (18 weeks). It is possible, although difficult, to obtain a functional repair of the rabbit Achilles tendon using carbon fibers.