DePuy launches product for rotator cuff repairs in Europe

DePuy Synthes Mitek Sports Medicine division, a developer of sports medicine products and soft tissue repair devices, has launched Dynacord Suture in select European markets.

The product is intended to be used in procedures such as soft tissue approximation in rotator cuff repairs.

Dynacord Suture is specifically designed to shorten when compression is lost, thereby minimising gap formation. Through axial contraction, Dynacord Suture has been shown in pre-clinical testing to mitigate suture laxity, creep, knot slippage or the loss of compression due to load spikes.

Professor Ralph Hertel, design surgeon at Shoulder and Elbow Centre in Bern, said: “The idea of a suture that minimises tissue gapping and gently improves tendon-to-bone contact was born based on observations during daily practice such as loss of suture tension immediately after tying and/or after inadvertent overload episodes during early rehabilitation. I believe that Dynacord Suture and its innovative technology could help address unmet needs in soft tissue repairs."

Rotator cuff tears are a common cause of shoulder pain and dysfunction amongst athletes and the aging population. In 30% to 70% of shoulder pain cases, the pain is related to disorders of the rotator cuff, and the incidence of rotator cuff tears varies between 5% and 40%. In rotator cuff repairs, which are intended to reduce pain and restore function, shoulder surgeons reattach the tissue to the upper arm utilising sutures and anchors. Structural failure of the repair occurs in a substantial number of cases and can lead to an unsatisfactory result. One meta-analysis of more than 8,000 rotator cuff repairs showed a mean re-tear rate of 26.6%. The revision rate for large to massive rotator cuff tears has been reported to be as high as 90%.

Dynacord Suture was designed to address the key goals of an ideal rotator cuff repair, including higher initial fixation strength, contact area and contact pressure at the tendon-bone interface, minimal gap formation, and sustained mechanical stability. The suture consists of two outer sheaths of braided fibres and a core comprised of silicone and salt, and when it is used in a repair, the salt particles within the silicone core dissolve, leaving behind a porous structure. These small voids then fill with surrounding fluid as the core hydrates, causing the braided sheath to expand outward and the suture to shorten in length if there is a loss in tension, thereby reducing laxity and helping to maintain footprint compression.

Emilio Calvo, head of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology and professor of orthopaedics at Fundación Jiménez Díaz in Madrid, said: “The self-tensioning aspect of Dynacord Suture is a great advancement. Maintaining suture tension protects my repairs from laxity and helps the suture stay in place for longer periods of time.”

Compared to a leading Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE) suture tested, Dynacord Suture also delivers 28% lower abrasiveness for a more secure repair.

Wulf Radermacher, European lead for DePuy Synthes Mitek Sports Medicine, said: “The European launch of Dynacord Suture demonstrates our ongoing commitment to introducing innovative solutions for sports medicine surgeons to help make continued advancements in the field of soft tissue repair. Our core objective is to continue to create innovative soft tissue repair solutions designed to equip orthopaedic surgeons with trusted and versatile choices to help them improve patient care.”