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Abstract

Background

Despite the growing popularity of all-inside meniscal repair devices, concerns remain about their fixation strength. It is also unclear which of these devices have the most ideal biomechanical properties.

Purpose

To compare the biomechanical properties of 3 all-inside meniscal repair devices: the Meniscal Cinch, Ultra FAST-FIX, and MaxFire.

Study Design

Controlled laboratory study.

Methods

Twenty-seven human cadaveric menisci (3 groups of 9) were repaired using 3 different meniscal repair devices. The repaired menisci were then subjected to cyclic loading and load-to-failure testing. Gap formation and ultimate load to failure were measured.

Results

Six of the devices failed during cyclic testing, 4 in the MaxFire group (44%), 1 in the Ultra FAST-FIX group (11%), and 1 in the Meniscal Cinch group (11%). After 1 cycle, there was a trend toward larger gap formation in the MaxFire group (3.65 mm) compared with the Meniscal Cinch group (2.12 mm, P = .05). After 100 cycles, group differences were found in gap formation (P = .03), with the MaxFire group exhibiting greater displacement (6.70 mm) than the Ultra FAST-FIX group (3.59 mm). After 500 cycles, group differences in gap formation (Meniscal Cinch, 5.94; Ultra FAST-FIX, 4.74 mm; Max Fire, 7.19 mm) did not reach statistical significance (P = .20). A trend was found toward higher ultimate load to failure in the Ultra FAST-FIX (86.1 N) and Meniscal Cinch (85.3 N) groups compared with the MaxFire group (64.5 N, P = .06). Stiffness was also higher in the Ultra FAST-FIX (25.2 N/mm) and Meniscal Cinch (25.5 N/mm) groups than the MaxFire group (16.3 N/mm, P = .02).

Conclusion

The Meniscal Cinch and Ultra FAST-FIX devices have more desirable biomechanical properties than the MaxFire as demonstrated by higher stiffness and a lower failure rate during cyclic testing.

Clinical Relevance

The Meniscal Cinch and Ultra FAST-FIX devices may be more desirable implants for use during all-inside meniscal repair as they have superior biomechanical properties when compared with the MaxFire device.

Keywords

meniscus meniscal repair biomechanical all-inside cyclic loading

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Cyclic Testing of 3 All-Inside Meniscal Repair Devices

Abstract

Background

Purpose

Study Design

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Clinical Relevance

Keywords

Get full access to this article

References