Original Research

Knot Security, Loop Security, and Elongation of Braided Polyblend Sutures Used for Arthroscopic Knots

Author and Disclosure Information

In the study described here, we evaluated load to failure and cyclic loading elongation of different braided polyblend sutures under different sliding knot configurations.

Four braided polyblend sutures (FiberWire, Herculine, Orthocord, Ultrabraid) were tied with 5 sliding arthroscopic knots (Static surgeon, Weston, Roeder, Nicky, Tennessee slider) with a series of 3 reversing half-hitches on alternating posts (RHAPs). Each knot was tied around a 30-mm circumference post to ensure a consistent loop circumference. Loop security was measured as load to failure (load at 3-mm cross-head displacement or suture breakage) and loop elongation at a frequency of 1 Hz from 6 N to 30 N for 1000 cycles. Twenty knots were tied for each possible combination of knots and sutures, 10 for load to failure and 10 for cyclic loading test.

For any given knot type, tying with Ultrabraid suture material resulted in maximum performance in the maximum load-to-failure test. Conversely, tying with Orthocord resulted in a significantly lower maximum load to failure, with the exception of the Surgeon knot. The Weston knot with 3 RHAPs using Ultrabraid provided the highest load to failure (mean, 346 N; SD, 24 N). All knots elongated less than 0.45 mm at the 1000th cycle and experienced higher suture slippage at initial cyclic loading (50th cycles). At higher cycles, FiberWire and Orthocord demonstrated less than half of the suture slippage of Herculine and Ultrabraid (5×10–5 vs 11×10–5 mm/cycle).

Different braided polyblend sutures provide different knot and loop security for a given type of sliding knot. All knots in this study appear to be durable with respect to resistance to loosening under cyclic loading conditions. The Weston knot with 3 RHAPs using Ultrabraid provided the best loop and knot security.

Our study results help further our understanding of the biomechanics of knot and loop security differences for different braided polyblend sutures.


 

Recommended Reading

Arthroscopic Excision of the Os Trigonum: Using the Posteromedial Portal Safely
MDedge Surgery
Resurfacing of Isolated Articular Cartilage Defects in the Glenohumeral Joint With Microfracture: A Surgical Technique & Case Report
MDedge Surgery
Arthroscopic Management of a Chronic Primary Anterior Shoulder Dislocation
MDedge Surgery
New Products/Product News
MDedge Surgery
In Vivo Micron-Scale Arthroscopic Imaging of Human Knee Osteoarthritis With Optical Coherence Tomography: Comparison With Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Arthroscopy
MDedge Surgery
Arthroscopic Excision of a Painful Bipartite Patella Fragment
MDedge Surgery
Randomized Prospective Evaluation of Adjuvant Hyaluronic Acid Therapy Administered After Knee Arthroscopy
MDedge Surgery
Scapular Osteochondroma Treated With Arthroscopic Excision Using Prone Positioning
MDedge Surgery
Pulmonary Embolism After Knee Arthroscopy
MDedge Surgery
New Products/Product News
MDedge Surgery