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. 2019 Jan 9;14(1):12.
doi: 10.1186/s13018-018-1049-x.

Osteoconductive resorption characteristics of a novel biocomposite suture anchor material in rotator cuff repair

Jan Vonhoegen  1 , Dominik John  2 , Constanze Hägermann  1
Affiliations

Osteoconductive resorption characteristics of a novel biocomposite suture anchor material in rotator cuff repair

Jan Vonhoegen et al. J Orthop Surg Res. .

Abstract

Background: Bioabsorbable suture anchors have been associated with bone-derived complications, such as osteolysis and cyst formation, after rotator cuff repair. The purpose of this study was to assess the osseous degradation process of the novel biocomposite suture anchor material polylactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA)/beta-tricalcium phosphate (ß-TCP)/calcium sulfate (CS) after arthroscopic single-row rotator cuff repair. The focus of interest was the appearance of osteolysis and the rate of total resorption of the implants after 21 months.

Methods: Forty-eight patients with 82 implanted suture anchors who had undergone arthroscopic rotator cuff repair between January 2015 and March 2016 at our institution were retrospectively evaluated by postoperative magnetic resonance imaging. The appearance of osteolysis was classified by measurement of the peri-implant fluid. The degree of resorption was measured by grading the persistent visibility of the anchor structures. The integrity of the rotator cuff tendon was analyzed to discover possible retear or anchor pull-out complications.

Results: After a follow-up of 21.2 (± 5.4) months, osteolysis was detected in only two anchors (2.4%), and none of these defects exceeded the diameter of the former suture anchor (5.5 mm). Fifty percent of the anchors were fully degraded and no longer visible. Furthermore, only two retears of the rotator cuff occurred, and no anchor pull-out complications were detected.

Conclusion: PGLA/β-TCP/CS is a fully resorbable and osteoconductive suture anchor material that seems to have superior resorption characteristics compared to those of other bioabsorbable suture anchor materials commonly used in arthroscopic rotator cuff repair.

Trial registration: The presented study was retrospectively registered by the commission for ethics at the Ärztekammer Nordrhein with the registration number 2016433 on January 17, 2017. All participating patients gave written consent for participation and the publication of their data.

Level of evidence: IV.

Keywords: Arthroscopic rotator cuff repair; Bioabsorbable; Osteolysis; PGLA; Suture anchor.

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Conflict of interest statement

Ethics approval and consent to participate

The present study was retrospectively registered with the number 2016433 by the commission for ethics at the Ärztekammer Nordrhein on 17.01.2017. All participating patients gave written consent for participation.

Consent of publication

All participating patients gave written consent for participation and the publication of their data. All data were saved and acquired anonymously.

Competing interests

All authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Grading of the resorption of the anchors. Grading system as described in Table 1. Coronal MRI-slices, fast spin-echo T2-weighted images with fat saturation Fat-Sat (TR/TE, 2300–4600/30–50 ms; slice thickness, 3 mm; slice gap, 0.3 mm)
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Grade of osteolysis. a Osteolysis grade 0 without fluid signal. b Osteolysis grade 1 with a punctual fluid signal within the anchor area. c Osteolysis grade 2 with separable sections of anchor material and fluid accumulation at the tip of the anchor
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Distribution of primary stability and retear rate among gender
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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