Bioabsorbable Polymers Used in Knee Arthroscopy, Part 2

Abstract

| ABSTRACTThe use of bioabsorbable materials in orthopedics has increased in the past 15 years, with technological advances using newer polymers for better fixation. Basic science and clinical research have shown the capacity of bioabsorbable materials to be safely and effectively used in many aspects of sports medicine, including meniscal repair and ligament reconstruction. The review summarizes the clinical outcomes associated with the use of bioabsorbable polymers used for fixation of anterior cruciate ligament grafts and meniscus repairs.There have been many advances in the field of knee surgery over the last century, most of which have been focused on restoring normal function to the injured knee. Advances in surgical technique and technology have allowed surgeons to improve the results of surgical treatment of sports-related knee injuries, allowing patients to return to normal function more quickly. Recently, there has been an increase in the use of bioabsorbable implants in the surgical treatment of sports-related knee injuries. Advantages of the use of bioabsorbable fixation over metal fixation include less distortion of magnetic resonance imaging, less chance of screw divergence, decreased need for a second surgical procedure for removal of symptomatic hardware, and decreased stress shielding. Two areas of knee surgery that have benefited recently from the development of bioabsorbable polymers include meniscal repair and anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. This article outlines the clinical results of the use of bioabsorbable polymers in sports-related knee surgery.The description of the first meniscus repair was reported by Thomas Annandale in 1885. 1 However, it was not until the 1970s that repairing torn menisci through an open approach gained widespread acceptance. In the 1980s, the development of arthroscopy allowed surgeons to operate on the meniscus without major disruption of the knee capsule, and the focus turned to reducing postoperative morbidity and return time to normal activity. Several arthroscopic approaches to meniscus repair have been described, including the inside-out and outside-in suture repair methods. 2 These techniques facilitated the repair of greater meniscal pathology, but came with the risk of neurovascular damage by the passing of suture. 3 Albrecht-Olsen et al 4 described a novel