Tendotonometry allows noninvasive in vivo biomechanical evaluation of the patellar tendon in sedated dogs in a study assessing intrauser variability.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the use and determine the feasibility and user reliability of a commercially available digital palpation device, a myotonometer, on the canine patellar tendon (PT). METHODS: In this prospective clinical feasibility study, client-owned dogs with no history of pelvic limb lameness were eligible for study enrollment from September through December of 2025 and included if their stifles were considered normal based upon physical examination and radiographic findings. Dogs were sedated, and a myotonometer was used to measure tone, stiffness, elasticity, relaxation, and creep of the PT. For each PT, a single user obtained 2 measurement series consisting of 5 individual measurements. RESULTS: 20 dogs were enrolled, and 400 total tendotonometric measurements were collected. No adverse events were observed. There were no statistically significant differences for any of the 5 biomechanical parameters between series within each side nor between left and right groups. There was good to excellent intraobserver repeatability between series and moderate to poor repeatability between sides. CONCLUSIONS: This clinical study demonstrated feasible myotonometer use as a novel method to obtain biomechanical data for the canine PT in a cohort of sedated dogs with normal stifles. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This study introduces tendotonometry into the clinical setting as a novel modality for in vivo evaluation of orthopedic soft tissues using the PT as a test case. Beyond the canine PT, future tendotonometry studies may allow for the generation of noninvasive, rapid, and objective biomechanical data in tendon repair and healing, soft tissue reconstruction for orthopedic conditions, and treatment response in neuromuscular disorders.