Treatment of Common Calcaneal Tendon Rupture Using a Central Gastrocnemius Turnover Aponeurotic Flap Technique in a Dog

Sergio Minei,Filippo Cinti,Brunella Pompei,Paolo Abrescia

doi:10.1055/s-0040-1715135

Abstract

AbstractA 9-year-old, intact male, German wirehaired pointer was referred for suspected Achilles tendon rupture 3 weeks after an injury. A three-loop pulley suture pattern combined with a locking loop suture reduced the gap between the tendon ends to 7 mm and a central gastrocnemius turnover aponeurotic flap was used to cover the remaining gap. A type II free-form methyl methacrylate transarticular external skeletal fixator was used to keep the tarsocrural joint in extension until 45 days postoperatively. Short- and long-term clinical and ultrasonographic evaluations showed gradual improvement in weight-bearing and progressive tendon healing. At 6 months after surgery, the dog had normal limb function and had returned to the previous activity level. To the authors' knowledge, this tendon repair technique has been described in humans and in one cat but has not yet been reported in dogs.

Highlights

Rupture of the Achilles tendon (AT) in dogs is mainly seen in medium-to-large breeds and is commonly the result of acute trauma.[1]
The prognosis for return to work or to vigorous athletic activity is fair to poor[18]; only one report found that the majority (71%) of working dogs returned to full or substantial levels of work after surgical repair,[4] which was in agreement with the outcome of the present case
Surgical repair is aimed at providing sufficient strength to resist gap formation at the anastomosis site and support the tendon during the healing process.[5,7,13]

Summary

Introduction

Rupture of the Achilles tendon (AT) in dogs is mainly seen in medium-to-large breeds and is commonly the result of acute trauma.[1]. Augmentation Technique Used on a Subacute Common Calcaneal Tendon Rupture Minei et al e85 methods and has been associated with a good outcome in patients with AT rupture and gap formation.[8,27,28] Augmented repair techniques are associated with high tensile strength and a low incidence of wound complications in human patients.[8,27,28] The use of the central gastrocnemius turnover aponeurosis flap technique has not been described in dogs but was recently reported in one cat.[29] The aim of this case report was to describe the central gastrocnemius turnover aponeurosis flap technique, for the treatment of subacute complete AT rupture with a moderate residual intraoperative gap between the two tendon stumps in a dog

Case History

Findings

Discussion