A simple device in shoulder arthroscopy: the suture assistant.

Arthroscopic reconstructive surgery in the shoulder is an extremely demanding. The advent of suture anchors, arthroscopic knot-tying techniques, and new arthroscopic instruments has greatly facilitated its development. Knowledge of the anatomy and surgical principles alone are not enough. Good visualization is critical. We describe a simple home-made device that can be very useful in improving visualization and in helping to retrieve sutures during the knot-tying stage, especially in smaller shoulders. We introduce the concept of "bringing the suture" to the instrument rather than "taking the instrument to the suture."