PubMed · 16084287
Soft-tissue interference fixation: bioabsorbable screw versus metal screw.
Abstract
PURPOSE: To compare the biomechanical properties of eccentrically positioned bioabsorbable and titanium interference screws for quadrupled hamstring tendon graft (QHTG) fixation. TYPE OF STUDY: In vitro, biomechanical study. METHODS: In 10 paired cadaveric tibiae and femurs (mean age, 66.5 years; range, 53 to 81 years), QHTG fixation was performed in tunnels sized to within 0.5 mm of QHTG diameter using either a titanium (RCI; Smith & Nephew Donjoy, Carlsbad, CA) or a bioabsorbable (BioScrew; Linvatec, Largo, FL) screw of equal size. Constructs then underwent biomechanical load-to-failure testing on a servo-hydraulic device at 20 mm/min. RESULTS: Load at failure was greater for femoral-side QHTG fixation using the bioabsorbable screw than the titanium screw (486 +/- 223.7 N v 246 +/- 99.1 N, P = .006); however, displacement did not differ (P = .81). There were no statistically significant differences between groups for tibial side load at failure (P = .54), stiffness (P = .44), or displacement (P = .50). Screw thread-induced graft laceration was more frequently observed in the titanium screw group (9 of 10 grafts during femoral-side testing, 0 of 10 grafts during tibial-side testing) than in the bioabsorbable screw group (0 of 10 grafts during femoral-side testing, 1 of 10 grafts during tibial-side testing). CONCLUSIONS: BioScrew interference screw fixation was comparable or superior to RCI titanium interference screw fixation. BioScrew interference screw fixation also produced less screw thread-induced laceration of the QHTG during load-to-failure testing. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Use of a biodegradable interference screw positioned directly against a soft-tissue graft provides fixation properties similar to those of a metal interference screw.
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Jeff C Brand, John Nyland, David N M Caborn, Darren L Johnson. 2005. Soft-tissue interference fixation: bioabsorbable screw versus metal screw.. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.arthro.2005.05.009
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