Comparison and performance characteristics of 3 different knots when tied with 2 suture materials used for shoulder arthroscopy.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the performance of a standard suture material with that of a new material across several arthroscopic knot configurations.


METHODS
Three knots were evaluated (Duncan loop, Weston, and San Diego knots) with the use of 2 suture materials (No. 2 Ethibond [Ethicon, Somerville, NJ] and No. 2 Force Fiber [Stryker Endoscopy, San Jose, CA]). Ten samples were tested for each knot and suture configuration. Samples were pretensioned to 10 N and were mechanically loaded from 10 to 45 N for 1,000 cycles. The number of cycles to 3 mm of loop elongation was recorded as "early" slippage. Intact knots with no evidence of early slippage were then subjected to a load-to-failure test so that the ultimate failure strength of the knot/material could be determined.


RESULTS
Force Fiber knots required a statistically greater number of cycles to reach 3 mm of slippage compared with Ethibond knots (P < .0001). A single Force Fiber knot experienced 3 mm of displacement during cyclic loading; all others survived to 1,000 cycles. One third of all Ethibond knots were displaced to 3 mm during cyclic loading. For Ethibond sutures, no significant differences in ultimate failure strength were observed between knots (average, 143 N across knot types). For Force Fiber sutures, the San Diego knot (279 +/- 41 N) was statistically similar in ultimate failure strength to the Weston knot (254 +/- 41 N), but it was significantly stronger than the Duncan knot (224 +/- 70 N) (P < .03).


CONCLUSIONS
The higher failure loads associated with Force Fiber may allow the surgeon to increase suture tension during knot tying, thereby creating a tighter knot. Loop elongation with Force Fiber occurred at loads that were greater than the typical breakage load for No. 2 Ethibond. Force Fiber is a new material that may be useful for various arthroscopic procedures.


CONCLUSIONS
Force Fiber provided increased biomechanical stability compared with Ethibond regardless of knot type. The cost benefit of using very strong yet very stiff sutures must be clinically evaluated.
Mahar
Andrew T
AT
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of California San Diego, San Diego, California, USA. amahar@chsd.org
Moezzi
Darius M
DM
Serra-Hsu
Fred
F
Pedowitz
Robert A
RA
D001182:Arthroscopy; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D006801:Humans; D008422:Materials Testing; D011091:Polyesters; D012785:Shoulder Joint / Q000601:surgery*; D013536:Suture Techniques / Q000592:standards*; D013537:Sutures / Q000592:standards*
D011091:Polyesters