title: Failure characteristics of various arthroscopically tied knots.
abstract: The current study evaluated multiple arthroscopic knot configurations and compared their properties with open, hand-tied square knots. This is an experimental study done on a material testing system. Number 2 Ethibond Extra and Number 1 Polydioxanone sutures were used. Four types of sliding knot configurations were tested: the Duncan loop, the Tennessee Slider, the Savoie-Modified Roeder, and the Lieurance-Modified Roeder. Two types of nonsliding knots were tested: the Revo knot and a knot consisting of alternating half-hitches tied with the Sixth Finger Knot Pusher. Ten knots were tied of each configuration, using strict arthroscopic technique. Each knot was backed-up with four half-hitches using post switching technique. Knots were tied around two rings and then transferred wet to a materials testing machine. The knots were tested until ultimate failure, with note of clinical failure at 3 mm. Ethibond suture using the Revo knot, the Lieurance-Modified Roeder knot, and the Savoie-Modified Roeder knot were similar in strength to the square knot with comparable failure modes. Polydioxanone suture was more variable; the Revo knot, the Savoie-Modified Roeder, the Tennessee Slider, and the Duncan loop were comparable with hand-tied square knots. All of the open and arthroscopic suture loops tested in this study failed by the suture loops expanding to greater than 3 mm before ultimate failure occurred. The surgeon choosing arthroscopic repair techniques should be aware of the differences in suture material and the variation in knot strength afforded by different knot configurations.
authors.forename: Robert K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Lieurance
authors.forename: Daniel S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Pflaster
authors.forename: Douglas
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Abbott
authors.forename: Wesley M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Nottage
mesh_terms: D001182:Arthroscopy; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D006801:Humans; D008422:Materials Testing; D011093:Polyethylene Terephthalates; D013536:Suture Techniques; D013537:Sutures
chemical_list: C014534:Ethibond; D011093:Polyethylene Terephthalates