Biomechanical comparison of four isometric prosthetic ligament repair techniques for tarsal medial collateral ligament injury.

Objective: To compare the stability, ultimate strength, and isometry of 4 prosthetic ligament repairs for canine tarsal medial collateral ligament injury.

Methods: 24 cadaveric canine distal hind limbs with induced medial tarsal instability were randomly divided into 4 groups. Simulated medial shearing injury of the collateral and medial malleolus were repaired using 1 of 4 isometric suture techniques: bone tunnels with nylon suture (TN), ultrahigh-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) suture (TU), tibial bone anchor with nylon suture (AN), or talar bone anchor with UHMWPE suture (AU).