Use of Bioabsorbable Knotless Suture Anchors and Associated Accelerated Shoulder Arthropathy

The successful use of suture anchors in arthroscopic surgery of the shoulder is well documented. 12 The benefits of a secure fixation with implant degradation and eventual tissue incorporation have led to the development of many bioabsorbable materials including the isomers of polyglycolic acid implants. 11 We look at an anchor produced from poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) and note recent reports of this bioabsorbable anchor and its associated complications. 2 Although the use of PLLA polymers has demonstrated promising results of lower incidence of lysis, slow degradation, and reduced loosening, recent reports of synovitis and chondral damage with osteolysis have emerged. 2,10 We report 3 cases of capsulolabral detachment, osteolysis, and severe chondral damage using the bioknotless anchors (DePuy Mitek, Raynham, Massachusetts). However, unlike previous reports suggesting that use of numerous (5) anchors is related to complications, we used comparatively fewer anchors with similar destructive findings. 2 .