title: Improving the biomechanical properties of the T-fix using oblique direction: in vitro study on bovine menisci.
abstract: This study compared pullout strengths of the T-fix device versus horizontal suture toward improving T-fix biomechanical properties. Twenty bovine medial menisci were used for this study. Four groups were tested and mean tearing stress were obtained. In group 1 a standard T-fix suture was performed (50.2+/-4.2 N); in group 2 horizontal mattress sutures were placed in the meniscus using 2-0 vicryl (54.6+/-4.2 N); in group 3 three T-fix suture anchors were placed: the central suture a double suture anchor and those on either side single suture anchors, resulting in two horizontal sutures (61.8+/-3.8 N); in group 4 we modified the technique used in group 3. The double suture anchor was placed the incision, at a 30 degrees angle oblique to the horizontal (71.0+/-5.9 N). There was a statistically significant difference between groups 3 and 4 but not between groups 1 and 2.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Using a T-fix suture anchor in the standard technique has similar biomechanical properties to the horizontal mattress suture. To improve the tensile properties of the T-fix suture a double T-fix suture anchor should be used obliquely to the other two single T-fix sutures on either side.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery and Traumatology, Medical School, Erciyes University, 38039 Kayseri, Turkey. sinankaraoglu@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Sinan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Karaoglu
authors.forename: Fuat
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Duygulu
authors.forename: Muharrem
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Inan
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Baktir
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D002417:Cattle; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008592:Menisci, Tibial / Q000601:surgery*; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013536:Suture Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation*