The Impact of Suture Button Fixation in Shoulder Surgery

Suture button fixation is making waves in the realm of shoulder surgery. This technique has proven to be quite effective for procedures like the Latarjet or anterior glenoid reconstruction when using bone autografts. Biomechanical studies have revealed that both screws and suture buttons can maintain stability and withstand comparable force levels. Intriguing research highlights that flexible fixation can lead to better bone callus formation, while rigid fixation might cause excessive growth of bone tissue. Interestingly, using mechanical tensioners can improve the consistency of suture button constructs, thereby enhancing bone healing rates in surgeries involving the anterior glenoid. However, there's still a question mark over how reliable bone-to-bone healing is when using suture buttons with allografts and native bone. Despite these uncertainties, the use of suture button fixation shows promising short and mid-term clinical results for arthroscopic Latarjet procedures and anterior glenoid reconstructions with bone autografts.