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Effect of structural design on the pullout strength of suture anchors for rotator cuff repair
Author(s) -
Chae SooWon,
Kang JuYong,
Lee Juneyoung,
Han SeungHo,
Kim SoungYon
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
journal of orthopaedic research®
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.041
H-Index - 155
eISSN - 1554-527X
pISSN - 0736-0266
DOI - 10.1002/jor.24135
Subject(s) - rotator cuff , thread (computing) , finite element method , cadaveric spasm , structural engineering , fibrous joint , stress concentration , materials science , orthodontics , geotechnical engineering , engineering , anatomy , mechanical engineering , medicine
ABSTRACT Various types of suture anchor designs are currently available for rotator cuff repair. The purpose of our study was to investigate the pullout strength of such anchors based on their structural design and the predominant geometric design factors affecting the pullout strength using finite element analysis. Finite element models were constructed using five cadaveric humeri and ten suture anchors with different designs. The pullout strength and distribution of bone stress around the anchor at three different directions of the applied force (0°, 45°, and 75°) were analyzed. The following geometric factors of suture anchor design were computed and their correlations with pullout strength assessed: Overall length, minor, and major diameters; number of threads; height of thread; distance between threads; helix angle; contact surface area between the anchor threads and surrounding bone; contact surface area between the cylindrical portion of the anchor; and surrounding bone and total contact surface area between the anchor and surrounding bone. The pullout strength and distribution of bone stress around the anchor varied according to the suture anchor designs and the direction of the applied force, respectively. The pullout strength had a strong positive correlation with the contact surface area between the anchor threads and surrounding bone, overall length, and the number and height of threads. This study demonstrated that suture anchor designs with increased contact surface area between the anchor threads and surrounding bone, overall length, and the number and height of threads can enhance the pullout strength during rotator cuff repair. © 2018 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 36:3318–3327, 2018.