Suture Tape Reinforcement Device as an Independent Fixation Solution for Partial Syndesmosis Injuries

Category: Ankle; Arthroscopy; Basic Sciences/Biologics; Sports Introduction/Purpose: A suture tape reinforcement device is designed for repair of syndesmotic injury. Its insertion in the fibular and tibial footprints of the anterior inferior tibiofibular ligament (AITFL) promises a dynamic constrain...

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Main Authors: Gregory R. Waryasz MD, Takahisa Ogawa MD, MPH, Bart Lubberts MD, PhD, Christopher W. DiGiovanni MD, Daniel Guss MD, MBA
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SAGE Publishing 2022-01-01
Series:Foot & Ankle Orthopaedics
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1177/2473011421S00065
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author Gregory R. Waryasz MD
Takahisa Ogawa MD, MPH
Bart Lubberts MD, PhD
Christopher W. DiGiovanni MD
Daniel Guss MD, MBA
author_facet Gregory R. Waryasz MD
Takahisa Ogawa MD, MPH
Bart Lubberts MD, PhD
Christopher W. DiGiovanni MD
Daniel Guss MD, MBA
author_sort Gregory R. Waryasz MD
collection DOAJ
description Category: Ankle; Arthroscopy; Basic Sciences/Biologics; Sports Introduction/Purpose: A suture tape reinforcement device is designed for repair of syndesmotic injury. Its insertion in the fibular and tibial footprints of the anterior inferior tibiofibular ligament (AITFL) promises a dynamic constraint to external rotation, antero-posterior translation of fibula and diastasis of the syndesmosis in the coronal plane.We hypothesized that following fixation of transected syndesmosis with suture tape reinforcement, syndesmotic stability becomes similar to that of an intact syndesmosis. Methods: Fifteen non-paired fresh frozen cadaveric specimens amputated above the knee were included in this study. Assessment of the ankle syndesmosis was performed in six stages; 1) with all syndesmosis ligaments intact; 2) after transection of the AITFL, 3) the interosseous ligament, 4) subsequent fixation with suture tape reinforcement device, 5) transection of the posterior inferior syndesmotic ligament, and 6) after removal of the suture tape reinforcement device (complete ligament transection stage). Instability measurements included anterior and posterior tibiofibular spaces measured arthroscopically under 100N lateral stress using a bone hook, tibiofibular anteroposterior and posteroanterior translation in sagittal plane measured arthroscopically under sagittal stress of 100N, and anterior tibiofibular space measured directly with a caliper under external rotation torque of 7.5 Nm. Instability measurements taken after each fixation method were compared with the intact stage and to the complete ligament transection stage using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Results: The suture tape reinforcement device was able to stabilize an AITFL- and the interosseous ligament-transected stage, similar to the intact stage, with respect to all measures of instability. As for the complete ligament transection stage, after suture tape reinforcement it remained unstable in the coronal plane, compared to the intact stage: there was an increase in anterior tibiofibular space without stress (1.7 mm vs 1.1 mm, p=0.005) and with stress (1.8 mm vs 1.1 mm, p=0.007), as well as in posterior tibiofibular space with stress (2.8 mm vs 1.6 mm, p=0.002). Conclusion: Our findings suggest that suture tape reinforcement device might be effective for fixation of partial syndesmotic injury, but not for complete syndesmotic injury. Future clinical research is needed to confirm this.
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spelling doaj.art-55269ae2e54f437b99f4b404b92a5f822022-12-21T19:29:18ZengSAGE PublishingFoot & Ankle Orthopaedics2473-01142022-01-01710.1177/2473011421S00065Suture Tape Reinforcement Device as an Independent Fixation Solution for Partial Syndesmosis InjuriesGregory R. Waryasz MDTakahisa Ogawa MD, MPHBart Lubberts MD, PhDChristopher W. DiGiovanni MDDaniel Guss MD, MBACategory: Ankle; Arthroscopy; Basic Sciences/Biologics; Sports Introduction/Purpose: A suture tape reinforcement device is designed for repair of syndesmotic injury. Its insertion in the fibular and tibial footprints of the anterior inferior tibiofibular ligament (AITFL) promises a dynamic constraint to external rotation, antero-posterior translation of fibula and diastasis of the syndesmosis in the coronal plane.We hypothesized that following fixation of transected syndesmosis with suture tape reinforcement, syndesmotic stability becomes similar to that of an intact syndesmosis. Methods: Fifteen non-paired fresh frozen cadaveric specimens amputated above the knee were included in this study. Assessment of the ankle syndesmosis was performed in six stages; 1) with all syndesmosis ligaments intact; 2) after transection of the AITFL, 3) the interosseous ligament, 4) subsequent fixation with suture tape reinforcement device, 5) transection of the posterior inferior syndesmotic ligament, and 6) after removal of the suture tape reinforcement device (complete ligament transection stage). Instability measurements included anterior and posterior tibiofibular spaces measured arthroscopically under 100N lateral stress using a bone hook, tibiofibular anteroposterior and posteroanterior translation in sagittal plane measured arthroscopically under sagittal stress of 100N, and anterior tibiofibular space measured directly with a caliper under external rotation torque of 7.5 Nm. Instability measurements taken after each fixation method were compared with the intact stage and to the complete ligament transection stage using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Results: The suture tape reinforcement device was able to stabilize an AITFL- and the interosseous ligament-transected stage, similar to the intact stage, with respect to all measures of instability. As for the complete ligament transection stage, after suture tape reinforcement it remained unstable in the coronal plane, compared to the intact stage: there was an increase in anterior tibiofibular space without stress (1.7 mm vs 1.1 mm, p=0.005) and with stress (1.8 mm vs 1.1 mm, p=0.007), as well as in posterior tibiofibular space with stress (2.8 mm vs 1.6 mm, p=0.002). Conclusion: Our findings suggest that suture tape reinforcement device might be effective for fixation of partial syndesmotic injury, but not for complete syndesmotic injury. Future clinical research is needed to confirm this.https://doi.org/10.1177/2473011421S00065
spellingShingle Gregory R. Waryasz MD
Takahisa Ogawa MD, MPH
Bart Lubberts MD, PhD
Christopher W. DiGiovanni MD
Daniel Guss MD, MBA
Suture Tape Reinforcement Device as an Independent Fixation Solution for Partial Syndesmosis Injuries
Foot & Ankle Orthopaedics
title Suture Tape Reinforcement Device as an Independent Fixation Solution for Partial Syndesmosis Injuries
title_full Suture Tape Reinforcement Device as an Independent Fixation Solution for Partial Syndesmosis Injuries
title_fullStr Suture Tape Reinforcement Device as an Independent Fixation Solution for Partial Syndesmosis Injuries
title_full_unstemmed Suture Tape Reinforcement Device as an Independent Fixation Solution for Partial Syndesmosis Injuries
title_short Suture Tape Reinforcement Device as an Independent Fixation Solution for Partial Syndesmosis Injuries
title_sort suture tape reinforcement device as an independent fixation solution for partial syndesmosis injuries
url https://doi.org/10.1177/2473011421S00065
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