[Experimental formation of tendon sheaths from a vein]

In animals, a new procedure was investigated to reduce tendon adhesions and restore a gliding surface. For this purpose, the tendon sheaths were replaced with autogenous vein grafts. Part of the experiments, performed on rabbits, demonstrated a satisfactory revitalization of the vein grafts. In a second series of experiments in dogs, the sheath was replaced with either a short or long vein graft. Tendon grafts were placed through the vein grafts in a second operation. In both groups, the veins were perfectly revitalized and the tendon grafts were likewise preserved. Only thin adhesions formed between vein grafts and tendon grafts. In a third group, the vein grafts and tendon grafts were placed at the same operation. In this group, the remodeling of the tendons required more time.