Constructs and methods for repairing a tendon with a reduced risk of reinjury

1. A method of effecting a tendon repair in a patient, comprising,

(a) providing a suture tape, having:

(i) a flat braid of elastic, absorbable fibers and high strength fibers;

(ii) said tape being at least 1 mm wide and 2 cm long and less than 1 mm high;

(iii) including at least 2 absorbable fibers and 4 high strength fibers;

(iv) capable of being stretched at least 10% from its shortest length to the length at which said suture tape breaks; and

(v) capable of withstanding a load of at least 200 Newtons, before breaking;

(b) using said suture tape to connect tendon tissue to bone of said patient, so that said tape lays flat on said tendon; and

(c) permitting ingrowth of tendon tissue into said suture tape, as said absorbable fibers are absorbed into said patient's tissue.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said absorbable fibers comprise polybutylene succinate.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein said absorbable fibers comprise polyhydroxyalkanoate.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein said absorbable fibers comprise poly(4-hydroxybutyric acid).

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein said high strength fibers are made of ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein said tape has a width between 1 mm and 3 mm.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein said tape is capable of being stretched between 12% and 20% from its shortest length to the length at which said tape breaks.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein knots are tied in said suture, and then positioned to lay flat under the skin of the patient, and wherein the use of suture tape causes the knot to have a lower profile height underneath the skin, relative to profile height using comparable strength round suture.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein said tendon repair is a rotator cuff repair.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein said tendon repair is an Achilles tendon repair.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein said suture tape is a 16 fiber braid, with at least two fibers being absorbable suture.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein said suture tape connects tendon tissue to bone of said patient by being anchored to said bone by a bone anchor.

13. A tendon repair suture tape, comprising:

(a) a flat braid of elastic, absorbable fibers and high strength fibers;

(b) said tape being at least 1 mm wide and 2 cm long and less than 0.2 mm high;

(c) including at least 2 absorbable fibers and 4 high strength fibers;

(d) capable of being stretched at least 10% from its shortest length to the length at which said suture tape breaks, and presenting an increasing resistance to further stretching as it is stretched; and

(e) capable of withstanding a load of at least 260 Newtons, before breaking.

14. The suture tape of claim 13 , wherein said absorbable fibers are made of polybutylene succinate.

15. The suture tape of claim 13 , wherein said high strength fibers are made of ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene.

16. The suture tape of claim 13 , wherein said tape is at least 2 mm wide.

17. The suture tape of claim 13 , wherein said tape is capable of being stretched between 12% and 20% from its shortest length to the length at which said tape breaks.

18. The suture tape of claim 13 , being a 16 fiber braid, of which at least two fibers are of absorbable material.