SUMMARYThe aim of this study was to describe and evaluate the treatment of perineal herniorrhaphy in dogs using allogeneic fascia lata. For this purpose, fascia lata was obtained from dog weighing 15 kg or more, whose death cause did not involve infectious or oncologic conditions, nor collagen-disease or trauma, or surgical scars to the thighs. The fascia lata was preserved in 75% glycerin solution. Seven patients with unilateral perineal hernia were selected for this clinical trial. Using a perineal approach, the hernia was reduced, muscles repositioned, and reconstruction was achieved suturing the fascia lata with interrupted 0 Nylon monofilament suture. Evaluations were made at 7, 15, 30 and 60 days, to assess the following parameters: defecation, micturition, local inflammation, and pain. The allogeneic graft was not rejected, and the herniorrhaphy technique was successful in all cases. No post-surgical complications were observed at 60 days after, while defecation, micturition and regional anatomy returned to normality. Allogeneic processed fascia lata has herein demonstrated to be biocompatible and well tolerated, thus allowing to be considered a safe and useful option to perineal herniorrhaphy technique in dogs.Palabras clave: herniorrafia, injerto, alogénico, canino.

Evaluación experimental en ratas del comportamiento biológico y mecánico del Nylon 66 para cerclaje en ortopediaEvaluation of biological and mechanical performance of Nylon 66 in rats for cerclage in orthopedic surgery SUMMARYSteel wires are currently being successfully used in stabilization and fixation of several kinds of fractures in both human and animal orthopedic surgery. In addition, new ceramic and plastic derivates have become available for those purposes. In oder to assess biocompatibility and to evaluate mechanical performance of sterilized Nylon 66 compared to the standard 316L steel wire, an experimental study in rat tibiae was carried out. Nylon 66 was looped extraperiostically around the right tibiae and steel was placed around the left tibiae , in the same animal. Different procedures (autoclave, formalin and ethylene oxid ), were used to sterilize Nylon 66. Mechanical properties (from deformation to rupture) of differently sterilized Nylon 66 were then quantitatively compared. Non-sterelized Nylon 66 served as control. To validate sterilizing procedures, microbiologic tests were performed on all sterilized Nylon 66. Results showed that both Nylon 66 and steel wires failed to induce cellular reaction (inflammation) at the implant sites. Mechanical testing of sterilized Nylon showed that formalin-exposed or autoclaved wires were quantitatively similar, and also similar to controls. Conversely, ethylene-oxid-sterilized material showed less resistance to deformation. Results were analyzed with a non-parametric statistical test (Kruskal-Wallis). All sterilized Nylon 66 samples failed to demonstrate microbiologic growth in cultures at 72 hours. Thus, Nylon 66 could be proposed as an acceptable alternative to steel for use in fracture fixation in small animal orthopedic surgery, since it shares the same biocompatibility and resistance to mechanical deformation properties with the standard (steel). Furthermore, it is an inexpensive material, widely available, and technically easy to handle. Further studies should be performed, however, to verify the results in long-term implanted material.Palabras claves: cerclaje, Nylon 66, biocompatibilidad.