The Journal of hand surgery
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Extensor tendon injuries are common; however, relatively few studies have evaluated extensor tendon repair methods. The purpose of this study was to investigate the properties of the running-interlocking horizontal mattress repair method with regard to tendon shortening, stiffness, strength, and time needed to perform the repair, compared with the modified Bunnell method and the augmented Becker method. ⋯ The running-interlocking horizontal mattress repair is significantly stiffer and faster to perform than either the augmented Becker or the modified Bunnell repairs, and it results in less shortening than either of these methods. The running-interlocking horizontal mattress repair should be strong enough to withstand some early motion.