Clinical Effect of Suture Anchor and Double-Pulley Technique in the Treatment of Inferior Patellar Fracture

Objective. To evaluate the efficacy of suture anchor combined with double-pulley technique for subpatellar comminuted fractures compared with wire vertical suture and Krachow in the treatment of subpatellar fractures. Methods. Retrospectively selected 48 patients with subpatellar pole comminuted fracture admitted in our hospital from February 2013 to July 2019, 25 patients with double-pulley technique (group A), and 23 patients with vertical wire suture with Krachow suture. Patient age, gender, AT/OTA typing, injury mechanism, follow-up time, surgical time, bleeding volume, mean fracture healing time, and postoperative complications were recorded. The Insall-Salvati index immediately and 6 weeks after surgery. Bostman scores and knee activity were recorded at each follow-up, and month 12 was taken as the final result. Results. Time of surgery in group A (46.52 min) was significantly shorter than in group B (76.30 min). Intraoperative bleeding in group 15.1 ml, B, group 15.9 ml. Both incisions healed in stage I, averaging clinical healing of patella fracture within 10 weeks. There was no significant difference in mean Bostman score and knee activity at month 12 (group A: 28.4, 124.8°; group B: 28.1, 125.7°). There was no significant statistical difference in the Insall-Salvati index immediately or 6 weeks between the two groups. Group B patients had two wire fractures, fracture healing and the wire removed one year after surgery, and the remaining patients had no complications such as internal fixation loosening, fracture, delayed healing, or nonhealing of fracture. Conclusion. Compared with the treatment of subpatellar fracture with wire vertical suture and Krachow method, suture anchor with double-pulley technique has short operation time, reliable fixation, and less complications. Patients can have early functional exercise and good knee function recovery without secondary surgery. It can be considered as an alternative therapy for this fracture and deserves clinical adoption and promotion.

The Addition of a Krackow Rip Stop Suture Augment After Achilles Tendon Debridement for Insertional Achilles Tendinopathy: A Biomechanical Study

Background In the operative treatment of insertional Achilles tendinopathy, the Achilles tendon is often released from its insertion to allow for adequate debridement of pathologic tissue. The use of a double row suture anchor construct has become increasingly favorable among surgeons after Achilles tendon debridement. This study hypothesized that the addition of a Krackow rip stop suture augment to the double row suture anchor construct would increase the repair’s maximum load to failure. A biomechanically stronger repair would potentially decrease the risk of catastrophic failure with early weight-bearing or accidental forced dorsiflexion after operative management for insertional Achilles tendinopathy. Methods Fourteen cadaveric specimens were used to compare the 2 repair techniques. Achilles tendons were debrided and repaired using either a double row suture anchor with and without the additional Krackow rip stop suture augment. The 2 repair techniques were compared using an axial-torsion testing system to measure average load to failure. Results The average load to failure for the double row suture anchor repair alone was 152.00 N. The average load to failure for the tendons with the double row suture anchor with the Krackow rip stop augment was 383.08 N. An independent-samples Mann-Whitney U-test was conducted and the suture anchor plus Krackow augment group had a significantly higher load to failure ( P = .011, Mann-Whitney U = 5.00, n1 = n2 = 7, P < .05, 2-tailed). Conclusion This study confirmed that the addition of a Krakow rip stop augment to the double row suture anchor is able to increase the maximum load to failure when compared to the double row suture anchor alone. These results suggest the potential of this added technique to decrease the risk of catastrophic failure.

Pull-Out Capability of a 3D Printed Threadless Suture Anchor with Rectangular Cross-Section: A Biomechanical Study

Suture anchor fixation is a common method for securing bone and soft tissue in the body, with proven applications in the hip, elbow, hand, knee and foot. A critical limiting factor of suture anchors is the pull-out strength, particularly in suboptimal bone. This study introduces a novel 3D printed threadless suture anchor with a rectangular cross-section. The titanium anchor was designed with surface fenestration and a porous central core to improve bone ingrowth. The aim of this study was to compare the pull-out properties of the novel threadless anchor with a traditional circular threaded suture anchor. The anchors were inserted into a 0.24 g/cm3 synthetic cancellous bone block at angles of 90° and 135° to the surface. The sutures were pulled at 180° (parallel) to the surface under a static pull test (anchor pullout) and cyclic load test using a tensile testing machine. Under the static load, the greatest pullout strength was seen with the novel threadless anchor inserted at 90° (mean, 105.6 N; standard deviation [SD], 3.5 N). The weakest pullout strength was seen with the threaded anchor inserted at 90° (mean, 87.9 N; SD, 4.1 N). In the cyclic load test, all six of the threaded anchors with a 90° insertion angle pulled out after 18 cycles (70 N). All of the threadless anchors inserted at 90° survived the cyclic test (90 N). In conclusion, the novel threadless suture anchor with rectangular cross-section and traditional threaded suture anchor had similar pullout survivorship when inserted at either 90° or 135°. In addition, the 3D printed threadless anchor has the potential for good bone integration to improve long-term stabilization.

Outcomes of arthroscopic Bankart repair (ABR) for anterior shoulder instability using two knotless suture anchors fixation.

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the short term outcomes of isolated Arthroscopic Bankart Repair (ABR) using knotless suture anchor technique, in young and middle aged patients with post traumatic Anterior Shoulder Instability (ASI). Study Design: Prospective Observational Study. Setting: Sports Units of Hayatabad Medical Complex, Peshawar. Period: January 2018 to December 2020. Material & Methods: 32 patients were included in this study, all of them were male, and who had traumatic anterior shoulder dislocation and underwent Arthroscopic Bankart Repair (ABR), with at least 2 years follow-up and minimum of 4 months of physiotherapy postoperatively. Sample size was calculated through non-probability consecutive sampling technique. Recurrent instability, postoperative glenohumeral osteoarthritis, post-surgical complications and subjective scores (Simple Shoulder Test [SST], American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeon [ASES] and Rowe scores) were evaluated. Results: Among the 32 participants, five patients (15.6%) experienced at least one episode of redislocation, eight patients (25%) had moderate to severe glenohumeral-osteoarthritis. The overall satisfaction rate was 76% with ASES, SST and Rowe scores of 82%, 9% and 79% respectively. One patient (3.12%) had wound infection. Conclusion: Isolated Arthroscopic Bankart Repair (ABR) using knotless suture anchor fixation for anterior shoulder instability followed by physiotherapy has excellent short term outcome in term of low post-surgical complication rate, high patient satisfaction, ability to joint work back and improved subjective scores, although high rate of postoperative glenohum eral osteoarthritis is disappointing necessitating further studies on the matter.

Arthroscopic Medial Patellofemoral Ligament Insertion Reconstruction and Plication for Medial Patellar Retinaculum Using Suture Anchor in First Acute Patellar Dislocation

Background: The objective of this study was to evaluate the clinical results of arthroscopic medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL) insertion reconstruction and plication for medial patellar retinaculum using suture anchor combined with lateral retinacular release in first acute patellar dislocation (APD) with MPFL insertion injury in adolescents.Methods: A prospective study was performed between January 2016 and July 2019. The series included 61 cases of adolescent patients with first APD. There were 7 males and 54 females with an average age of 15.5 years (10 to 22). All cases were treated with arthroscopic suture anchor plication for medial patellar retinaculum combined with lateral retinacular release. Congruence angle (CA), lateral patellar angle (LPA), and patellar tilt angle (PTA) are measured by CT scan between last follow-up and preoperative. In addition, the patients were evaluated with the Lysholm and Kujala scores.Results: The average follow-up time was 40.9 months (24-60 months). All 61 knees showed excellent or good results postoperatively. The Lysholm score increased significantly from 58.6±8.1 to 91.9±5.0 at the last follow-up postoperatively (P<0.001 ). The Kujala scores increased significantly from 60.4±7.3 to 88.9±4.8 at the last follow-up postoperatively (P < 0.001). CA in 0° extension position was improved significantly from 19.8±2.1° preoperatively to -6.7±1.7° at the last follow-up (P<0.001), LPA was increased from -7.4±2.2° to 5.7±1.8° (P<0.001), and PTA was increased from 23.8±2.9° to 12.3 ±2.3° (P<0.001). The postoperative mean Lysholm and Kujala scores were 91.9 (81–100) and 88.9 (79–100), respectively.Conclusions: When the first APD occurs associated with the MPFL avulsed from the patella, the presented technique could not only reattach MPFL at the patellar border but also strengthen the medial patellar retinaculum. This anatomical repair technique can significantly improve the stability of the patella and has the advantage of being less invasive by the full-arthroscopic approach.

Comparative outcomes between all-inside arthroscopic suture anchor technique versus arthroscopic transosseous suture technique in patients with triangular fibrocartilage complex tear: a retrospective comparative study

Background Triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC) has become an interest over the last few decades, discovering its understanding in anatomy, pathomechanism, biomechanics, and management in treatments. Currently, TFCC does not have a golden standard procedure, and not one surgical procedure is superior to the other. This study is to evaluate the comparative outcomes in TFCC patients that underwent either in all-inside arthroscopic suture anchors or the arthroscopic transosseous suture technique. Method From 2017 to 2019, 30 patients were analyzed. Eight patients were in an arthroscopic transosseous group and 22 patients were in an all-inside arthroscopic group. Comparison between patients’ flexion and extension range of motion (ROM), grip strength, and visual analog pain scale (VAS) preoperative and six-month follow-up were analyzed. Result There were significant increases in flexion ROM, extension ROM, and VAS between preoperative and postoperative in all-inside arthroscopic and arthroscopic transosseous. Only the all-inside arthroscopic group had a significant increase in grip strength. Postoperative flexion ROM had a significant difference between all-inside arthroscopic and arthroscopic transosseous. Conclusion Both the all-inside arthroscopic suture anchor technique and the arthroscopic transosseous suture technique are appropriate treatments to treat patients with TFCC. Both procedures have achieved the ultimate goal of improved longevity and optimal function. Level of evidence Level III; retrospective comparative cohort study.

Acromioclavicular Joint Pseudo-dislocations with Lateral end Clavicle Fracture: A Rare Injury and Proposed Technique of Fixation

Introduction: Lateral end clavicle fractures are rare injuries in pediatric and adolescent population. Most of these injuries can be managed conservatively. However, in patients with acromioclavicular joint (ACJ) “pseudo-dislocations” associated with significant clinical deformity, some patients will benefit from operative intervention. Case Report:Our reported case is a young adolescent with a Type IV Dameron and Rockwood distal clavicle fracture and ACJ pseudo-dislocation, who underwent surgical fixation for this injury. We propose a novel technique of fixation with a suture anchor and endo button with temporary K wire stabilization. These are rare injuries and there are no standardized techniques for reconstruction and fixation. Stabilization with a suture anchor can provide a minimally invasive method of fixation for such injuries without the traditional plating and can lead to excellent final outcomes. Conclusion:ACJ pseudo-dislocations are rare injuries. There is limited evidence in guiding the management of such injuries. Our proposed technique of fixation with suture anchor, endo button and temporary stabilisation with K-wire can provide promising results. Keywords:Clavicle fracture, paediatrics, suture anchors, acromioclavicular joint, trauma.