Suture anchor fixation strength in the Latarjet procedure: a biomechanical study in cadavers.

Abstract

The use of metallic screws for graft fixation during the Latarjet procedure is not devoid of complications. The purpose of the present cadaver study was to determine the initial strength of coracoid graft fixation using suture anchors and compare it to that of the traditional screw fixation of the graft using a fresh frozen human shoulder cadaver model. Twelve unpaired fresh frozen cadaver shoulders were utilized. In the first group, suture anchor fixation of the graft was used, while 3.75-mm cannulated screws were used in the second group. The specimens were then cyclically loaded from 5 to 150 N at a speed of 0.05 mm/s for 100 cycles. After cyclic loading, each specimen was then loaded at a constant rate of 0.5 mm/s until 7 mm of displacement. Cyclic elongation, peak-to-peak displacement, stiffness and maximum load were measured. There were no significant differences between the traditional screw fixation and fixation using suture anchors in elongation, peak-to-peak displacement, stiffness and maximum load. In this study, traditional screw fixation and fixation using suture anchors did not significantly affect biomechanical performance in a classic Latarjet procedure.