Bioabsorbable suture anchor migration to the acromioclavicular joint: how far can these implants go?

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic surgery
• Biomaterials science
• Sports medicine

Background:

• Bioabsorbable suture anchors are increasingly used for rotator cuff repair, offering advantages over metallic implants.
• Reported complications are infrequent, but awareness of potential issues is crucial.
• Metallic implants can cause complications like migration and interference with imaging, driving the development of bioabsorbable alternatives.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report an unusual complication of bioabsorbable suture anchor migration following rotator cuff repair.
• To document the anchor's unexpected location within the acromioclavicular joint.
• To contribute to the understanding of potential adverse events associated with bioabsorbable anchors.

Main Methods:

• Case report of a 53-year-old male patient with persistent shoulder pain and weakness two years after rotator cuff repair.
• Diagnostic imaging, including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), was utilized to investigate the cause of symptoms.
• Identification of a migrated bioabsorbable suture anchor in the acromioclavicular joint via MRI.

Main Results:

• The patient presented with pain and weakness, initially suspected as rotator cuff retear.
• Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a bioabsorbable suture anchor had migrated from its original placement to the acromioclavicular joint.
• This represents a novel and previously unreported location for bioabsorbable anchor migration.

Conclusions:

• Bioabsorbable suture anchors, while generally safe, can potentially migrate to unusual locations, such as the acromioclavicular joint.
• This case underscores the importance of considering device migration as a complication, even with bioabsorbable materials.
• Further surveillance and reporting are necessary to fully understand the complication profile of bioabsorbable suture anchors in orthopedic surgery.