Foreign-body reaction to the bioabsorbable suretac device

Abstract

Arthroscopic shoulder stabilization with the bioabsorbable Suretac device (Acufex Microsurgical, Mansfield, MA) offers some technical advantages compared with other approaches. However, in 4 patients (3 men, 1 woman; between 20 and 35 years of age) with 3 SLAP lesions grades 2 and 1 post-traumatic anterior shoulder instability, breakage and early loosening of the Suretac device was observed. All patients complained about shoulder pain and loss of active and passive motion. The arthroscopic examination revealed a massive synovitis without positive cultures. Loose fragments of the Suretac device spread in the joint cavity and induced a foreign-body reaction. Histologically, there was a massive infiltration of phagocytic cells (histiocytes, multinucleated giant cells) and birefringent polymeric particles surrounded by or within histiocytes and multinucleated giant cells. All patients underwent arthroscopic synovectomy. Because of instability, 2 of them required restabilization, which was performed with suture anchors (Fastak [Arthrex, Naples, FL], Mitek [Mitek Division, Ethicon, Norderstedt, Germany]). Postoperatively all patients were pain free, progressing to full active and passive range of motion. Our patients suffered from a mechanical failure rather than from a predisposition to exaggerated inflammatory response. According to this observation, the Suretac device seems to be prone to early failure in patients with SLAP lesions because of its biodegradability.