Allograft storage methods can change some mechanical characteristics of tissues. With the objective of analyzing the influence of freezing phenomenon and storage time on tendons’ biomechanical properties, the authors studied 40 calcaneus tendons obtained from 20 human cadavers, with an average age of 41.95 years, ranging from 31 to 54 years old, being 17 males and three females. From each cadaver, two tendons were removed, one tested in its fresh state and the contralateral one frozen at -85º C in an electric freezer, during a period of six or 12 weeks. The bodies of evidence were submitted to traction assays in a Kratos K5002 mechanical assay machine, delivering strength-deformation graphics. Strength at maximum resistance limit, stiffness, tension at maximum resistance limit, relative deformation, and elasticity module parameters were assessed. The results were compared and statistically analyzed by "Student’s t- method", with a significance level of 0.05, with no significant difference on values achieved between groups. We concluded that freezing at -85º C does not cause changes to tendons’ biomechanical properties, despite of storage time.
Freezing; Transplantation; homologous; Achilles tendon; Biomechanics
