Hypersensitivity to Suture Anchors

Masafumi Goto,Takahiro Okawa,Ryo Tanesue,Naoto Shiba,Yasuhiro Mitsui,Fujio Higuchi,Masafumi Gotoh

doi:10.1155/2013/932167

Masafumi Goto, Takahiro Okawa + Show 5 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1155/2013/932167

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Abstract

Hypersensitivity to suture anchor is extremely rare. Herein, we present a case in which hypersensitivity to suture anchor was strongly suspected. The right rotator cuff of a 50-year-old woman was repaired with a metal suture anchor. Three weeks after the surgery, she developed erythema around her face, trunk, and hands, accompanied by itching. Infection was unlikely because no abnormalities were detected by blood testing or by medical examination. Suspicious of a metallic allergy, a dermatologist performed a patch testing 6 months after the first surgery. The patient had negative reactions to tests for titanium, aluminum, and vanadium, which were the principal components of the suture anchor. The anchor was removed 7 months after the first surgery, and the erythema disappeared immediately. When allergic symptoms occur and persist after the use of a metal anchor, removal should be considered as a treatment option even if the patch test result is negative.

Highlights

Case Report Hypersensitivity to Suture AnchorsHypersensitivity to suture anchor is extremely rare
Suture anchors are commonly used, and the literature indicates that they are biologically safe [1,2,3]
We found that the repaired rotator cuff was well healed and the surrounding cancellous bone had not eroded

Summary

Case Report Hypersensitivity to Suture Anchors

Hypersensitivity to suture anchor is extremely rare. We present a case in which hypersensitivity to suture anchor was strongly suspected. The right rotator cuff of a 50-year-old woman was repaired with a metal suture anchor. Three weeks after the surgery, she developed erythema around her face, trunk, and hands, accompanied by itching. Suspicious of a metallic allergy, a dermatologist performed a patch testing 6 months after the first surgery. The patient had negative reactions to tests for titanium, aluminum, and vanadium, which were the principal components of the suture anchor. The anchor was removed 7 months after the first surgery, and the erythema disappeared immediately. When allergic symptoms occur and persist after the use of a metal anchor, removal should be considered as a treatment option even if the patch test result is negative

Introduction

Discussion