Biomaterials Used for Suture Anchors in Orthopedic Surgery

Abstract

Suture anchors are broadly used for attaching soft tissue (e.g., tendons, ligaments, and meniscus) to the bone and have become essential devices in sports medicine and during arthroscopic surgery. As the usage of suture anchors has increased, various material-specific advantages and challenges have been reported. As a result, suture anchors are continually changing to become safer and more efficient. In this ever-changing environment, it is clinically essential for the surgeon to understand the key characteristics of existing anchors sufficiently. This paper aims to summarize the current concepts on the characteristics of available suture anchors.

Keywords: Arthroscopy; Biocompatible materials; Knee; Shoulder; Sports medicine; Suture anchor.

Fig. 1. Metallic suture anchor: Super Revo FT, titanium (ConMed Linvatec, Largo, FL, USA).

Fig. 2. Biostable suture anchors. (A) ReelX STT (Stryker, San Jose, CA, USA). (B) PopLok (ConMed Linvatec, Largo, FL, USA). (C) FootPrint (Smith & Nephew, Andover, MA, USA).

Fig. 3. Biocomposite suture anchors. (A) BioComposite Corkscrew FT, 15% beta-tricalcium phosphate and 85% poly-L-lactic acid (Arthrex, Naples, PL, USA). (B) Genesis CrossFT, 23% beta-tricalcium phosphate and 77% poly-lactic acid (ConMed Linvatec, Largo, FL, USA).

Fig. 4. Biocomposite suture anchor: Healicoil Regenesorb (Smith & Nephew, Andover, MA, USA).

Fig. 5. All-soft suture anchors. (A) Q-Fix (Smith & Nephew, Andover, MA, USA). (B) Suturefix (Smith & Nephew). (C) Iconix (Stryker Endoscopy, San Jose, CA, USA). (D) JuggerKnot (Biomet Sports Medicine, Warsaw, IN, USA). (E) Y-Knot (ConMed Linvatec, Largo, FL, USA).