Turkey model for flexor tendon research: in vitro comparison of human, canine, turkey, and chicken tendons.
BACKGROUND
Flexor tendon injuries are one of the most common hand injuries and remain clinically challenging for functional restoration. Canine and chicken have been the most commonly used animal models for flexor tendon-related research but possess several disadvantages. The purpose of this study was to explore a potential turkey model for flexor tendon research.


METHODS
The third digit from human cadaveric hands, canine forepaws, turkey foot, and chicken foot were used for this study. Six digits in each of four species were studied in detail, comparing anatomy of the flexor apparatus, joint range of motioņ tendon excursion, tendon cross-sectional area, work of flexion, gliding resistance at the level of the A2 pulley, modulus of elasticity, suture retention strength, and histology across species.


RESULTS
Anatomically, the third digit in the four species displayed structural similarities; however, the tendon cross-sectional area of the turkey and human were similar and larger than canine and chicken. Furthermore, the turkey digit resembles the human's finger with the lack of webbing between digits, similar vascularization, tendon excursion, work of flexion, gliding resistance, mechanical properties, and suture holding strength. More importantly, human and turkey tendons were most similar in histological appearance.


CONCLUSIONS
Turkey flexor tendons have many properties that are comparable to human flexor tendons which would provide a clinically relevant, economical, nonhuman companion large animal model for flexor tendon research.
['Kadar|Assaf|A|', 'Thoreson|Andrew R|AR|', 'Reisdorf|Ramona L|RL|', 'Amadio|Peter C|PC|', 'Moran|Steven L|SL|', 'Zhao|Chunfeng|C|']
D000818:Animals D002645:Chickens D004285:Dogs D006230:Hand Injuries D006801:Humans D066298:In Vitro Techniques D023421:Models, Animal D013708:Tendon Injuries D013710:Tendons D014422:Turkeys
Turkey model Flexor tendon Canine model Chicken model