Canine Cranial Cruciate Ligament Repair Anchor System
The Arthrex Difference
Since 1984, Arthrex has been a privately held corporation committed to just one thing: providing the finest quality products and educational services to meet the special needs of surgeons and their patients. Arthrex has a focused dedication to creative product development and medical education with an experienced, devoted team of professionals who are truly committed to continuing this longterm tradition.
Our goal is to make technically demanding surgical procedures easier, safer and reproducible. Your trust in Arthrex products means you are backed by a company committed to uncompromising quality and constant product innovation.
Suture Tensioner with Tensiometer
The redesigned Suture Tensioner allows the surgeon to quickly set and control the desired tension on FiberWire and FiberTape™ suture. The open design allows for better visualization of the suture during suture capture and the easy to read tension markings allow the surgeon to accurately dial-in the appropriate tension setting. Once the desired amount of tension/reduction is achieved, half-hitches can be thrown down the shaft of the tensioner to secure the fixation. Autoclavable for quick cleaning.
FiberWire Scissor
The FiberWire Scissor was designed to cut any size or style suture, especially FiberWire, in open surgical cases where an arthroscopic suture cutter is not necessary. With its specially designed cutting edges, it can cut FiberWire cleanly and effortlessly without frayed edges.
Revolutionizing Orthopaedic Surgery
FiberWire suture is constructed of a multi-stranded long chain ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene core with a polyester braided jacket which gives FiberWire superior strength, soft feel and abrasion-resistance, unequaled in orthopaedic surgery. Suture breakage during knot tying is virtually eliminated, which is especially critical during arthroscopic procedures. FiberWire represents a major advancement in orthopaedic surgery.
Strength
FiberWire has greater strength than comparable size polyester suture. Multiple independent scientific studies document significant increases in strength-to-failure, stiffness, knot strength and knot slippage with much less elongation.
Tie Ability and Knot Profile
Superior strength allows tighter loop security during knot tying, increasing knot integrity while reducing the knot profile compared to polyester suture.
Abrasion-Resistance
The multi-stranded long chain ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene core dramatically increases FiberWire's abrasion-resistance. Surgical procedures that create bone edges, tunnel edges, and articulating surface abrasion areas are appropriate indications for FiberWire. FiberWire is over five times more abrasion-resistant than polyester suture.
Safety in Numbers
Trusted by leading orthopaedic surgeons worldwide since its introduction in 2002, FiberWire has contributed to successful outcomes in over one million orthopaedic surgical procedures. Extensive biocompatibility, animal and clinical testing proves that FiberWire demonstrates biocompatibility characteristics equivalent to polyester suture.
Recommended PostoperativeManagement
- Cefazolin - 22 mg/kg IV 30 minutes prior to incision, 90 minutes later, then every 6 hours
- Cephalexin - 22-30 mg/kg orally every 8-12 hours for ten days post-op
- Bandaging at your discretion (soft-padded bandage for at least 24 hours is typical)
- Restrict to kennel rest when unobserved and controlled muscle building activities (i.e., leash walking) for eight weeks post-op
- Professional rehabilitation is encouraged
Suture Anchors with FiberWire®
The Arthrex Corkscrew® and FASTak™ Suture Anchors were designed to provide the highest strength possible in all types of indications and to make technically demanding procedures simpler, safer and reproducible. Built-in, easy to use features, such as laser lines on the driver shaft ensure that the anchor has been placed at an appropriate depth and the eyelet is lined up in the correct position to pass the suture in the right direction are just a few examples. Combined with the high strength characteristics and increased abrasion-resistance of FiberWire, it gives the surgeon confidence during crucial knot tying stages where suture breakage is virtually eliminated.
Surgical Technique
The patient is positioned in lateral or dorsal recumbency under general anesthesia. A hanging limb technique with aseptic preparation and appropriate draping should be performed. The use of a stockinette or adherent impervious drape is recommended to keep the suture from coming in contact with the skin.
A lateral parapatellar approach with arthrotomy is performed and thorough exploration of the internal structures of the joint is completed. Pathologic ligament and meniscus should be treated appropriately. Using standard technique, lavage the joint and close the joint capsule incision.
This illustrated stifle joint shows the recommended isometric sites for suture anchorage in the femur and tibia. In the femur, the isometric position is located caudally below the level of the distal pole of the fabella (F2). In the tibia, the isometric site is located 1-3 mm caudal to the bony protuberance, which forms the caudal wall of the sulcus for the long digital extensor tendon.
Locate the F2 site by palpating the distal pole of the lateral fabella and make a small incision to expose the caudolateral surface of the femoral condyle. Predrill a pilot hole, with a .062 Guide Wire, in a cranioproximal direction towards the trochlea about 15 mm deep.
Locate the T3 site by palpating the bony protuberance, which forms the caudal wall of the sulcus for the long digital extensor tendon. The T3 site is located at the peak of the LDE groove just caudal to the LDE. Drill a tunnel with a .045 Guide Wire, which will pass beneath the sulcus and exit the caudomedial cortex of the proximal tibia.
Place a 2 mm Cannulated Drill Bit over the Guide Wire and drill through the bone. Leave the Cannulated Drill Bit in place and remove the drill from the drill bit. Remove the Guide Wire and leave the Cannulated Drill Bit in place.
Advance the Nitinol Suture Passing Wire into the cannulation of the drill bit, blunt tip first, until the looped end is just exiting the top of the drill bit on the lateral side (inset). Remove the drill bit, but leave the passing wire in place. Secure the Nitinol Suture Passing Wire to keep it from slipping out of the tunnel.
Insert the anchor in a cranioproximal direction towards the trochlea. Advance the anchor until the circumferential laser line is flush with the surrounding bone and the straight laser lines are pointing towards the tibial anchorage site.
Unwrap the suture from the handle and remove the driver from the anchor by pulling back on the handle. The anchor is seated firmly, so you may need to use some force to remove the anchor driver.
Pass up to one inch of suture through the eyelet of the Nitinol Suture Passing Wire and pull it slowly, but firmly, through the tibial tunnel. It helps to bend the suture over itself before passing it through the tunnel. Make sure no soft tissue is being pulled into the tunnel as it may cause the Nitinol loop to break.
Once the suture has exited on the medial side, pull all excess suture through the tunnel to allow for easier Suture Button loading and placement.
Load the button onto the suture by placing the tip of one of the sutures up one hole and down the other. Place the Nitinol Suture Passing Wire back into the tibial tunnel with the looped end on the medial side and pass up to one inch of suture through the eyelet. Pull the suture slowly, but firmly, through the tunnel.
Stabilize the joint by pulling the suture limbs to the desired tension and tie a surgeon’s knot. You can clamp the knot to check for joint stability before backing the knot up with half-hitches. When the joint is stabilized, remove the clamp and tie 4-6 additional half-hitches. Cut the excess suture.
If using the Suture Tensioner, start the double loops of the surgeon’s knot and advance one limb of suture through the eyelet of the tensioner. Tension to the desired level.
Slide a half-hitch down the shaft of the Suture Tensioner to engage the knot under tension. Remove the tensioner and apply 4-6 additional half-hitches to the knot. Cut the excess suture.
Check again for joint stability. Imbricate the fascia over the suture and close routinely.
Postoperative Rehabilitation of the CCL Deficient Stifle Joint
- Rehabilitation begins with early pain management using modalities such as cryotherapy, massage therapy, and cold laser therapy.
- Supervised restricted activity is paramount for optimal outcome. Restricted activity is continued for eight weeks following surgery or until released for free activity by the attending veterinarian.
- When outside, your pet must have activity limited to that on a leash. Begin with 4-6 short (5-10 minutes) walks the first postoperative week. Walk at a pace that encourages weight-bearing with the operated leg. Initially, the pace will be very slow but as your pet becomes more comfortable, the pace and distance will increase.
- The second week following surgery, make use of a physioball or balance board. Applying either or both modalities for 10 minutes, twice daily, is an excellent activity for strength and balance training.
- Beginning three weeks after surgery, start walking through grass. This maneuver increases flexion and extension of the stifle joint. Gradually increase the height of the grass until it is slightly above the level of the tarsal joint.
- Aquatic therapy (swimming, underwater treadmill exercise) are additional modalities which help achieve an optimal outcome. Consult a rehabilitation practitioner for additional information regarding these modalities.
- Benefits of rehab include improved owner compliance, reduced risk of re injury during the recovery phase, and optimal return to clinical function.
ORDERING INFORMATION
Suture Tensioner with Tensiometer |
AR-1529 |
FiberWire Scissor |
VAR-11796 |
5 mm Corkscrew Suture Anchor |
VAR-2101 |
5 mm Corkscrew Suture Anchor w/#5 FiberWire |
VAR-2100 |
2.8 mm FASTak Suture Anchor w/#2 FiberWire |
VAR-2200 |
2.8 mm FASTak Suture Anchor |
VAR-2201 |
Suture Passing Wire, Nitinol |
AR-1255-08 |
Suture Button, 3.5 mm x 11 mm |
AR-8920 |
Cannulated Drill Bit, 2 mm |
AR-8933-20C |
Guide Wire (K-wire), .045 |
AR-8933K |
Guide Wire (K-wire), .062 |
AR-8941K |
1300 353 198
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