Soft Suture Anchor Aids Hip and Shoulder Repairs

A new soft suture anchor allows surgeons to fine tune hip and shoulder repairs by adding additional fixation points.

The SutureFix Ultra all-suture based soft anchor is indicated for use in both hip and shoulder labral repair, delivering high fixation strength that does not rely on bone quality for security, thanks to a wavelike design and a construct that forms itself against the steel inserter, not the cortical layer. The anchor’s small diameter and shallow insertion depth allow the placement of multiple implants along the glenoid rim, creating a large, evenly distributed surface area of tissue compression for greater tissue-to-bone contact.


The anchor also provides reliable management, the result of a unique combination handle and safety button. Once the anchor has been tapped into the pilot hole, deployment is achieved by simply pulling back on the safety trigger until an audible “click” is both heard and felt, confirming successful deployment into the bone. The drill guide windows provide additional visual confirmation of drilling depth and anchor placement.

Each SutureFix Ultra all-suture anchor comes preloaded on Ultrabraid high-strength sutures to deliver the security of a strong suture with a low knot stack. The anchor itself is made of durabraid suture and once implanted, leaves no hard materials behind. Thanks to the low profile 1.7 x 20 mm twist drill, the anchor removes less bone than traditional fixation anchors. The SutureFix Ultra all-suture based soft anchor is a product of Smith & Nephew (London, United Kingdom).

“When the design team started working on this anchor, surgeons were very clear with what they wanted; a small, soft anchor that is easy to deploy and delivers excellent fixation in a variety of bone qualities,” said Scott Schaffner, vice president of the Global Sports Medicine Franchise for Smith & Nephew. “And as a company known for our sports medicine expertise and pioneering products, we knew that we could deliver.”

“The SutureFix Ultra anchor truly is the next generation of hip labral repair fixation; with a reliable deployment that ‘clicks’ to confirm the anchor is set,” said Marc Philippon, MD, of the Steadman Philippon Research Institute (Vail, CO, USA). “This anchor system is so versatile I can place it anywhere along the acetabular rim, providing additional fixation points for a secure repair.”

Related Links:
Smith & Nephew
Steadman Philippon Research Institute