Purpose
Despite their clinical importance in maintaining the stability of the pinch mechanism,
injuries of the radial collateral ligament (RCL) of the index finger may be underrecognized
and underreported. The purpose of this biomechanical study was to compare the repair
of index finger RCL tears with either a standard suture anchor or suture tape augmentation.
Methods
The index fingers from 24 fresh-frozen human cadavers underwent repair of torn RCLs
using either a standard suture anchor or suture tape augmentation. Following the repairs,
the initial displacement of the repair with a 3-N ulnar deviating load was evaluated.
Next, the change in displacement (cyclic deformation) of the repair after 1,000 cycles
of 3 N of ulnar deviating force was calculated (displacement of the 1000th cycle −
displacement of the first cycle). Finally, the amount of force required to cause clinical
failure (30° ulnar deviation) of the repair was determined.
Results
Suture tape augmentation repairs displayed significantly less cyclic deformation (0.8 ±
0.5 mm) after cyclic loading than suture anchor repairs (1.8 ± 0.7 mm). There was
no significant difference in the force required to cause the clinical failure of the
repairs between the suture tape (35.1 ± 18.1 N) and suture anchor (24.5 ± 9.2 N) repairs.
Conclusions
Index finger RCL repair with suture tape augmentation results in decreased deformation
with repetitive motion compared with RCL repair alone.
Clinical relevance
Suture tape augmentation may allow for early mobilization following index finger RCL
repair by acting as a brace that protects the repaired ligament from deforming forces.
Key words
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: August 10, 2022
Accepted:
May 20,
2022
Received:
December 1,
2021
Publication stage
In Press Corrected ProofFootnotes
Dr Mazzocca reports research grants from and is a consultant for Arthrex Inc. The University of Connecticut Health Center/UConn Musculoskeletal Institute has received direct funding and material support from Arthrex Inc (Naples, FL). The company had no influence on study design, data collection, or interpretation of the results or on the final manuscript. No benefits in any form have been received or will be received related directly or indirectly by the other authors to the subject of this article.
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© 2022 by the American Society for Surgery of the Hand. All rights reserved.
