Evaluating different closed loop graft preparation technique for tibial suspensory fixation in ACL reconstruction using TightRope™

Publication date: April 2018Source: Asia-Pacific Journal of Sports Medicine, Arthroscopy, Rehabilitation and Technology, Volume 12Author(s): Takahisa Sasho, Toshihide Sasaki, Hiroko Hoshi, Ryuichiro Akagi, Takahiro Enomoto, Yusuke Sato, Ryosuke Nakagawa, Masamichi Tahara, Satoshi YamaguchiAbstractIn most anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstructions, grafts are fixed to the femoral side first followed by the tibial side. Various techniques have been reported to achieve optimal tension on the grafts, but once the grafts are fixed it is difficult to adjust graft tension further. To enable post fixation tension control we have invented a new graft configuration using an adjustable loop-device (TightRopeTM, Arthrex, FL, USA) on the tibial side. In this paper, biomechanical properties of this configuration using soft tissue were examined in terms of graft diameter and various suture techniques (referred to as base suture) to make a closed circle to support TightRopeTM.Two experiments were conducted under different conditions. In each experiment, cyclic load, followed by a pull-to-failure load, was applied to the grafts and elongation and failure mode were recorded. (1) To evaluate the effects of diameter, 5.0 or 6.0 mm grafts were prepared by a single locking loop stitch as the base suture (SLL5, SLL6). (2) To evaluate different base sutures, 5.0 mm tendons were used, and grafts were prepared using five kinds of base sutures (SLL, ZLL: zigzag locking loop, DZLL: double zigzag l...
Source: Asia-Pacific Journal of Sports Medicine, Arthroscopy, Rehabilitation and Technology - Category: Sports Medicine Source Type: research