title: Analysis of suture anchor eyelet position on suture failure load.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare mechanical performance of 2 orientations of the 5 mm Corkscrew® suture anchor with #5 Fiberwire® .
  
  
  METHODS
  In vitro biomechanical study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Suture anchor-suture constructs (n=40).
  
  
  METHODS
  Acute and cyclic tensile loads were applied to suture threaded through eyelets of 40 anchors perpendicular to the long axis of the anchor. Eyelets were positioned so that the suture pull was in line with (anchor rotation angle of 0° [ARA 0]) or 90° (ARA 90) to the eyelet plane. Load at failure, stiffness, and cycles to failure were determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All constructs failed by suture breakage at the eyelet. Mean load at failure was significantly higher in the ARA 90 group (634 ± 93 N) compared with the ARA 0 group (495 ± 52 N; P=.0015). No significant difference was found between groups for mean number of cycles to failure (270 ± 177 versus 178 ± 109; P=.2166) and stiffness (50 ± 4 versus 48 ± 5 N/mm; P=.3141).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Corkscrew® 5 mm suture anchor with Fiberwire® suture fails via suture breakage at the eyelet under higher acute loads if the suture is loaded at an angle of 90° compared with 0° with respect to the plane of the eyelet.
authors.affiliation: Orthopedic Research Laboratory, Department of Clinical Sciences, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University, Foster Hospital for Small Animals, North Grafton, MA 01536, USA.
authors.forename: Sevima A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Aktay
authors.forename: Michael P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Kowaleski
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004867:Equipment Design; D004868:Equipment Failure; D008422:Materials Testing; D019563:Mechanics; D013536:Suture Techniques / Q000662:veterinary*; D013537:Sutures / Q000662:veterinary*; D013718:Tensile Strength