Abstract: Objective  To study the biomechanical stability of reticular loop ligature fixation for tibial eminence fractures.
Methods  A total of 24 fresh porcine knee joints were involved in this experiment. After type Ⅲ fracture model was established in uniform size, the 24 samples were divided into reticular loop ligature group(group A, n=12) and neck knot loop group(group B, n=12) by computer random method. Each specimen was subjected to cyclic test and pull-out test. The maximum failure load, yield load, stiffness and displacement were compared between two groups.
Results  The failure mode: Twelve cases in group A had displacement exceeding the predetermined limit. In group B, 7 specimens failed as a result of displacement exceeding the predetermined limit, 3 cases failed because of bone tilted up, and 2 cases experienced failure for bone rotated. The biomechanical results showed that the maximum failure load and yield load of group A were higher than those of group B, and the average displacement after cycle loads of group A was lower than that of group B, suggesting significant differences between two groups(P＜0.05). The difference of average stiffness value between two groups had no statistically significance(P＞0.05). 
Conclusion  The biomechanical property of reticular loop ligature fixation for type Ⅲ tibial eminence fracture may be superior to that of neckwear knot loop ligature fixation.

Key words: tibial fractures； suture fixation, biomechanics, swine