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Vet Comp Orthop Traumatol
DOI: 10.1055/a-2812-5029
Original Research

Gap Formation in Achilles Tendon Reinsertion in Cats: A Comparative Ex Vivo Study of Bone Tunnel and a Bioabsorbable Suture Anchor

Authors

  • Felix Groß

    1   Institute of Lightweight Design and Structural Biomechanics, TU Wien, Vienna, Austria

  • Katja Haslinger-Vaughan

    1   Institute of Lightweight Design and Structural Biomechanics, TU Wien, Vienna, Austria

  • Philipp J. Thurner

    1   Institute of Lightweight Design and Structural Biomechanics, TU Wien, Vienna, Austria

  • Riccarda Schuenemann

    2   Department of Surgery, Small Animal Hospital Sattledt, Sattledt, Austria

Funding Information All anchors used in this study were donated by VetWelding AG. Furthermore, an honorarium for conducting the work was received by P.J.T. utilized to cover funding for salaries of an MSc Student, and partially also for a PhD student (K-H.V.), as well as further time spent on designing and supervising the study by P.J.T. In further detail, the honorarium was used to cover costs for developing the mechanical testing setup, consumables, conducting tests, analysing data, and in-person and online meetings to discuss project progress and mitigate project risks. All financial payments of VetWelding in this context were made to the university.
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Abstract

Objective

This study aimed to compare gap formation between a classical transcalcaneal bone tunnel and a bioabsorbable suture anchor in a feline Achilles tendon avulsion model.

Study Design

Gastrocnemius tendons were dissected from the calcaneus of seven pairs of feline gastrocnemius tendon–calcaneus specimens. Reinsertion was performed either through a transverse bone tunnel or with a bioabsorbable suture anchor with a metric 3 non-absorbable monofilament polypropylene–polyethylene suture in a Bunnell–Mayer pattern. Tensile tests were conducted under physiological loading conditions. Gap formation was tracked with a video camera, and force on the tendon was measured. Results were compared with t-tests.

Results

Mean load at a gap of 0.5 mm was significantly higher for the suture anchor (44.2 ± 5.5 N) compared with the bone tunnel (23.0 ± 15.4 N). A 3-mm gap was not reached with the suture anchor. Failure loads were dominated by suture breakage and were not significantly different between suture anchor (55.2 ± 8.0 N) and bone tunnel (65.1 ± 8.3 N). Pulling through the tendon substance did not occur.

Conclusion

The suture anchor resisted gap formation more effectively than the bone tunnel and can be considered advantageous for gastrocnemius tendon reinsertion in cats.

Keywords

Achilles tendon avulsion - bone anchor - bioabsorbable suture anchor - gastrocnemius tendinopathy - common calcaneal tendinopathy

Contributors' Statement

F.G. contributed to data curation, formal analysis, investigation, software, validation, visualization, writing–original draft, writing–review and editing. K.H-V. contributed to conceptualization, investigation, methodology, supervision, validation. P.J.T. contributed to conceptualization, data curation, funding acquisition, investigation, methodology, project administration, supervision, writing–original draft, writing–review and editing. R.S. contributed to conceptualization, data curation, investigation, methodology, project administration, resources, supervision, writing–original draft, writing–review and editing.




Publication History

Received: 01 April 2025

Accepted: 11 February 2026

Article published online:
24 February 2026

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