Biomechanical analysis of suture anchors and suture materials in a canine femur model

Scope and Method of Study: Biomechanical analysis of acute load to failure (ALF) of three veterinary and one human suture anchor and cyclic load to failure with two suture-material/suture anchor constructs in cadaveric canine femoral condyles. Three veterinary and one human suture anchor were placed in the cranial and caudal aspects of the femoral condyle and subjected to a 0° ALF. The anchors were loaded with 5 USP Fiberwire or 27 kilogram test nylon leader line and subjected to 90° cyclic testing for 10,000 cycles followed by an ALF.; Findings and Conclusions: The veterinary anchors had higher ALF in the caudal aspect of the condyle, while position had no effect on the human anchor. In the caudal aspect of the condyle, all veterinary anchors had higher ALF than the human anchor. Differences were detected between anchor and suture brands in cycles to failure and in post-cycling ALF.