Failure strength of repair devices versus meniscus suturing techniques

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to compare the load to failure of different common suturing techniques with repair devices. Seventy-one calf medial menisci were cut to simulate peripheral longitudinal tears and repaired with one of 13 repair techniques. The two parts of the meniscus were pulled using the Instron tensometer until failure occurred. The techniques and repair devices tested were vertical (0 PDS, 2-0 PDS, 2-0 Ethibond), horizontal (0 PDS, 2-0 PDS, 2-0 Ethibond) suturing, T-fix, Mitek, Clearfix screw, Clearfix dart, Biostinger, S-D-sorb, and Artrex dart. The strongest repair method in our study was the vertical sutures with 0 PDS. In this study the mean failure strength of all meniscal repair devices was lower than that of the vertical and horizontal suturing techniques. All meniscus repair devices except T-fix and in some the Arthrex dart (40% broken up) pulled out of the menisci. Devices which had only horizontally placed barbs had lower mean failure strength. Failure strength of T-fix was similar to horizontal sutures with 2-0 Ethibond and 2-0 PDS. In conclusion, because all meniscal repair devices had inferior results, when such devices are used, postoperative rehabilitation should not be hastened, and their inferior primary stability should be kept in mind.