Abstract
PURPOSE: The treatment of Achilles tendon (AT) rupture can be conservative or surgical; the latter is better indicated in high-performance athletes. The pursuit of faster recovery and reductions in skin complications and re-ruptures have improved the tendon repair technique and early assisted rehabilitation programs. Our goal was to check whether or not the adjuvant use of 2-octyl cyanoacrylate (CA) provides additional mechanical resistance to the calcaneal tenorrhaphy when compared to sutures alone. METHODS: In the study, 45 rabbits were used, and distributed into three groups of 15 animals each. They underwent two surgical procedures at a 30-day interval. In the first, a complete AT section was done on the right side and then was repaired using three different techniques: suture alone in Group 1, suture with 2-octyl CA in Group 2 and 2-octyl CA alone in Group 3. After 30 days, the rabbits were euthanized, and their right-side calcaneal tendon was resected, and sent the specimen for pathology analysis. Then, a cross-section of the left calcaneal tendon was performed, and the same three repair techniques were used. After 15 min, the repaired tendons to the linear traction mechanical strength test were done. RESULTS: The results from the linear strength test showed that suture with glue outperformed suture alone (p = 0.0427), and glue alone (p < 0.0001). The pathology results were evaluated according to inflammation, repair process and tendon thickness. The report mentioned a high-intensity mixed inflammatory pattern (acute and chronic), outstanding neovascularization, tissue necrosis and abscess in most of the cases that used CA. However, there were no local or systemic clinical signs of an infectious process. CONCLUSIONS: 2-octyl CA added immediate mechanical strength to the calcaneal tendon repair in the rabbits, without increasing local complications, despite pathological changes up to 30 days after the repair. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: NA study.