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The role of suture cutout in the failure of meniscal root repair during the early post-operative period: a biomechanical study

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Abstract

Purpose

To assess the role of suture cutout in the mechanics of failure of the repaired posterior meniscal root during the early post-operative period when using sutures of different shape.

Methods

Twenty medial porcine menisci were randomized in two groups depending on the suture shape used to repair the posterior root: thread or tape. The sutured menisci were subjected to cyclic loading (1000 cycles, (10, 30) N) followed by load-to-failure testing. Residual displacements, stiffness, and ultimate failure load were determined. During tests, the tissue-suture interface was recorded using a high-resolution camera.

Results

In cyclic tests, cutout progression at the suture insertion points was not observed for any specimen of either group and no differences in residual displacements were found between use of thread or tape. In load-to-failure tests, suture cutout started in all menisci at a load close to the ultimate failure and all specimens failed by suture pullout. Suture tape had a greater ultimate load with no other differences.

Conclusions

In a porcine model of a repaired posterior meniscal root subjected to cyclic loads representative of current rehabilitation protocols in the early post-operative period under restricted loading conditions, suture cutout was not found as a main source of permanent root displacement when using suture thread or tape. Suture cutout progression started at high loading levels close to the ultimate load of the construct. Tape, with a meniscus-suture contact area larger than thread, produced higher ultimate load.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Andalucía Tech, Laboratorio de Biomecánica, Departamento de Ingeniería Mecánica, Universidad de Málaga, C/ Pedro Ortiz Ramos, s/n., Málaga, 29071, Spain

    Ana Perez-Blanca, María Prado Nóvoa & Francisco Ezquerro Juanco

  2. Servicio de Cirugía Ortopédica y Traumatología, Hospital Universitario Virgen de la Victoria, Málaga, Spain

    Maximiano Lombardo Torre & Alejandro Espejo-Baena

  3. Hospital Vithas Parque San Antonio, Málaga, Spain

    Alejandro Espejo-Reina & Alejandro Espejo-Baena

Authors
  1. Ana Perez-Blanca
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  2. María Prado Nóvoa
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  3. Maximiano Lombardo Torre
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  4. Alejandro Espejo-Reina
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  5. Francisco Ezquerro Juanco
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  6. Alejandro Espejo-Baena
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Correspondence to Ana Perez-Blanca.

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This article does not contain any studies with human participants or animals performed by any of the authors.

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Perez-Blanca, A., Prado Nóvoa, M., Lombardo Torre, M. et al. The role of suture cutout in the failure of meniscal root repair during the early post-operative period: a biomechanical study. International Orthopaedics (SICOT) 42, 811–818 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00264-018-3799-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00264-018-3799-9

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