Modified arthroscopic suture fixation of displaced tibial eminence fractures using a suture loop transporter.
Current arthroscopic suture fixation techniques of tibial eminence fractures are time consuming and the number of anchor sutures that can be placed is limited by the cumbersome and repetitive numerous needle threading steps. This occurs at 2 stages: first, when placing anchoring sutures through the avulsed anterior cruciate ligament stump with a suture punch, and second, when there is a need to traverse the tibial bone canal with the suture ends. We describe a modification that reduces the reliance on conventional rigid instruments and instead uses a loop transporter made from readily available suture material. The suture loop transporter being malleable reduces the necessary width of the tibial bone canal to be made and has a further advantage of minimizing the bone loss during the reaming of the bone tunnel. The subsequent potential for a stress fracture at these tunnel sites is also substantially reduced. Our technique is more user friendly, more accurate, and quicker to perform.
Yip
D K
DK
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, the University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong. dkhyip@hku.hk
Wong
J W
JW
Chien
E P
EP
Chan
C F
CF
D000328:Adult; D001182:Arthroscopy; D001490:Basketball / Q000293:injuries; D001642:Bicycling / Q000293:injuries; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D011859:Radiography; D013536:Suture Techniques; D013978:Tibial Fractures / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*