TIBIAL SUTURE DISK
A tibial suture disk , also known as a tibial suture anchor or tibial fixation device, is a medical device used in orthopedic surgery, particularly in procedures involving ligament reconstruction or repair. Here are the specifications and common uses of this surgical device:
Specification
- Design: The tibial suture disk typically consists of a flat or concave disk-shaped body with a central aperture or hole. This design allows for the passage of sutures or fixation devices through the disk and into the bone.
- Material: These disks are commonly made from titanium (hence the abbreviation "TIT"), which offers biocompatibility, strength, and corrosion resistance. Titanium is a preferred material for orthopedic implants due to its favorable mechanical properties and ability to integrate with bone tissue.
- Surface Texture: The surface of the disk may feature a textured or porous structure to enhance bone ingrowth and promote osseointegration. This surface treatment improves the stability and longevity of the fixation construct within the bone.
- Suture Holes: Tibial suture disks typically have multiple suture holes or channels around the perimeter of the disk. These holes accommodate sutures or other fixation devices used to secure soft tissue grafts or ligaments to the tibia bone during surgical procedures.
- Sterilization: Suture disks are supplied sterile to prevent the risk of infection during surgery. They are usually individually packaged in sterile packaging to maintain sterility until the time of use.
Uses
- ACL Reconstruction: One of the primary uses of tibial suture disks is in anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction surgery. During ACL reconstruction, a graft, often sourced from the patient's own tissue (autograft) or a donor (allograft), is secured to the tibia bone to replace the torn ACL. The tibial suture disk serves as a fixation point for sutures or fixation devices used to anchor the graft to the tibia, facilitating graft integration and stability.
- Other Ligament Reconstructions: Tibial suture disks may also be utilized in reconstructive procedures involving other ligaments of the knee, such as the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) or medial collateral ligament (MCL). In these procedures, the disks are used to secure soft tissue grafts or ligament repairs to the tibia bone, restoring joint stability and function.
- Meniscal Repair: In certain cases of meniscal injury or tear, tibial suture disks may be employed to facilitate meniscal repair. The disks are used to anchor sutures or repair devices to the tibia, allowing for the secure fixation of the repaired meniscus to the bone while promoting healing and tissue integration.
- Revision Surgery: Tibial suture disks may also be used in revision ACL reconstruction surgeries or other revision procedures involving ligament reconstructions. In revision surgeries, the disks help in reestablishing stability and function in knees with previous surgical interventions by providing robust fixation of grafts or repairs to the tibia bone.
Overall, tibial suture disks are essential orthopedic implants used in various ligament reconstruction and repair surgeries, providing reliable fixation of soft tissue grafts or repairs to the tibia bone and contributing to successful surgical outcomes and patient recovery.