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Effects of freeze/thaw conditioning on the tensile properties and failure mode of bone‐muscle‐bone units: A biomechanical and histological study in dogs
Author(s) -
GottsaunerWolf Florian,
Grabowski John J.,
Chao Edmund Y. S.,
An KaiNan
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
journal of orthopaedic research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.041
H-Index - 155
eISSN - 1554-527X
pISSN - 0736-0266
DOI - 10.1002/jor.1100130114
Subject(s) - ultimate tensile strength , autolysis (biology) , anatomy , muscle tissue , materials science , tension (geology) , medicine , chemistry , composite material , biochemistry , enzyme
Eight pairs of canine supraspinatus bone‐muscle‐bone units were mechanically tested to failure in tension. One side was tested immediately post mortem, and the other side was tested after exposure to a standard freeze/thaw process (−60°C). The failure site was analyzed histologically. Fresh specimens had greater values for ultimate strength (p < 0.001), stiffness (p < 0.001), and energy to failure (p < 0.001). All specimens failed in the muscle close to the musculotendinous junction. The length of muscles subjected to the freezing process was reduced (9.3%). In addition, the load‐displacement curves for the fresh and frozen specimens showed marked differences in shape. The loss of tensile strength in muscle tissue is due to damage of the intracellular contractile elements caused by postmortem autolysis; this type of damage is increased as a result of the freeze/thaw process. The freeze/thaw process significantly altered the tensile properties of normal muscle tissue, no matter how carefully it was done. One cannot expect to receive representative data if muscle is frozen and thawed.