A study published in The American Journal of Sports Medicine found the Closed-Loop Double Endobutton Repair technique, which Steven Struhl, MD, developed and patented, is effective in repairing acute unstable distal clavicle fractures.
Dr. Struhl designed the Continuous-loop Double Endobutton technique to address slippage issues and was found to be successful for treating acromioclavicular joint separation. The new 10-year study includes six patients with acute unstable distal clavicle fractures who were treated using the technique.
"The surgical design was to use a continuous loop to eliminate knot breakage and slippage, is in line with biomechanical principles and always creates a biologic connection between the coracoid and the clavicle. The technique is open, the joint is reduced, a hole is drilled, the channel length is measured and the appropriate loop size is chosen and prepared with sutures," said Dr. Struhl describing the technique.
Here are four insights:
1. The study found at a minimum one-year follow-up, all patients achieved radiographic union.
2. There were no cases of non-union or osteolysis, and researchers did not observe any surgical site infections or perioperative fractures.
3. The mean American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons Shoulder Score was 98 (out of 100) and the Simple Shoulder Test score was 11.2 (out of 12).
4. Dr. Struhl is on faculty at New York University School of Medicine and at the Hospital for Joint Diseases, both located in New York City.