A primate model for the evaluation of tendon adhesions

A cynomologous monkey animal model was developed for future pharmacological trials to reduce tendon adhesions. When developing an animal model, similarity to human anatomy and severance of motor units from operated tendons are stressed. Differences in vincular anatomy among various laboratory animals and incomplete postoperative tendon-motor unit immobilization in previous studies tend to distort results. Peak pull-out forces were measured on the Instron tensionmeter as operated tendons that underwent surgical procedures on Zone II were removed from their sheaths and compared to controls at various times postoperatively. Increasing pull-out force was obtained in a reproducible fashion.