The effect of the trabecular microstructure on the pullout strength of suture anchors

Abstract This study investigates how the microstructural properties of trabecular bone affect suture anchor performance. Seven fresh-frozen humeri were tested for pullout strength with a 5 mm Arthrex Corkscrew in the greater tuberosity, lesser tuberosity, and humeral head. Micro-computed tomography analysis was performed in the three regions of interest directly adjacent to individual pullout experiments. The morphometric properties of bone mineral density (BMD), structural model index (SMI), trabecular thickness (TbTh), trabecular spacing (TbS), trabecular number (TbN), and connectivity density were compared against suture anchor pullout strength. BMD ( r =0.64), SMI ( r =−0.81), and TbTh ( r =0.71) showed linear correlations to the pullout strength of the suture anchor with p -values