Is FiberStitch Radiopaque?
FiberStitch is not inherently radiopaque, as it is an all-suture meniscal repair device without radiopaque markers or metal components.
Understanding FiberStitch Composition
FiberStitch is classified as an all-suture, all-inside meniscal repair device that does not contain metal anchors or radiopaque materials 1. Unlike traditional PEEK-anchored devices that may be visible on imaging, all-suture devices like FiberStitch rely entirely on suture material for tissue fixation 1.
Radiopacity of Suture Materials
- Standard surgical sutures are generally not radiopaque unless specifically manufactured with radiopaque elements 2
- Historically, radiopaque sutures have been developed by incorporating materials like platinum wires into polyester sutures, but these are specialty products used primarily for specific applications such as cardiac surgery where post-operative visualization is critical 3
- Most orthopedic soft tissue repair devices, including all-suture constructs, lack sufficient density to be visualized on standard radiographs 2
Clinical Implications for Imaging
If you need to verify FiberStitch placement or assess repair integrity, standard radiographs will not be adequate 2. Consider these alternatives:
- MRI with metal artifact reduction sequences is the preferred modality for evaluating soft tissue repairs and suture placement in the knee 2
- Ultrasound can be used for dynamic assessment of meniscal repairs, though this is operator-dependent 4
- Review the operative report for documentation of device placement location and number of devices used 2
Important Caveats
- The absence of radiographic findings does not exclude the presence of the device 5
- Do not rely on plain radiographs or CT to visualize all-suture meniscal repair devices - they will appear negative even when properly placed 2, 5
- If assessing for complications such as device migration or failure, MRI remains the gold standard for soft tissue evaluation 4