Summary
A commercially available veterinary suture anchor was tested in the acetabula and
femurs of canine cadavers. Size #2 suture anchor constructs were compared to a traditional
screw and Teflon spiked washer constructs in a model of coxofemoral luxation repair.
The screw/washer constructs failed at a higher maximum load than the #2 anchor constructs.
In the acetabulum, significant differences in strength were also found in the position
of the implant and in the direction of pull. The constructs in a more caudal position,
and constructs pulled 90 degrees to the axis of insertion, failed at higher loads.
The predominant mode of failure of the constructs was a suture failure. In the femur,
size #5 suture anchors were used in a model of cranial cruciate ligament repair and
collateral ligament repair. The anchor constructs failed predominantly by anchor pull-out
in the distal femur. The constructs pulled 90 degrees to the axis of insertion were
stronger than constructs pulled at 0 degrees to the axis of insertion. Varying the
location of the implant in the femur did not affect the maximum load to failure.
Keywords
BoneBiter® - Suture anchor - coxofemoral luxation - biomechanics