Comparison of arthroscopic suture-bridge technique and double-row technique for treating rotator cuff tears

Background: When using a method of suture bridge technique, there may be a possibility of strangulation of the rotator cuff tendon at the medial row. The style of knots chosen to secure the medial row might conceivably be a factor to reduce this possibility. Purpose: To compare the clinical results and repair integrity of arthroscopic rotator cuff repair between a knotless and a conventional knot-tying suture bridge technique for patients with full-thickness rotator cuff tears and to evaluate retear patterns in the cases with structural failure after arthroscopic repair by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 2. Methods: After arthroscopic repair for medium-sized rotator cuff tears, 110 patients available for postoperative MRI evaluation at least 6 months were enrolled in this study. According to the repair technique, 51 shoulders were enrolled in a knotless suture bridge technique group (group A) and 59 shoulders in a conventional knot-tying suture bridge technique group (group B). The mean age at the time of the operation was 61.0 years (range, 44-68 years) in group A and 57.6 years (range, 45-70 years) in group B. The mean follow-up period was 21.2 months (range, 12-34 months) and 22.1 months (range, 13-32 months), respectively. Results: The Constant score of group A increased from the preoperative mean of 65.2 points to 79.1 points at the last follow-up ( P < .001). The corresponding figures for group B improved from 66.6 points to 76.3 points ( P < .001). The preoperative Shoulder Rating Scale of the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) score was 21.1 points in group A and 18.3 points in group B. The UCLA score at the last follow-up was 31.0 points in group A and 27.9 points in group B ( P < .001, P < .001). Retear rate was significantly lower in group A (5.9%) than group B (18.6%) ( P < .001). In group B, retear occurred at the musculotendinous junction in 72.7%, but group A had no medial cuff failure. Conclusion: In arthroscopic suture bridge repair of full-thickness rotator cuff tears, clinical results of both a knotless and a conventional knot-tying group showed improvement without significant difference between the 2 groups. However, the knotless group had a significantly lower retear rate compared with the conventional knot-tying group. A knotless suture bridge technique could be a new supplementary repair technique to conventional technique.

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A comparison of clinical outcomes after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair using single-row, double-row and suture bridge technique

Asia-Pacific Journal of Sports Medicine Arthroscopy Rehabilitation and Technology ◽

10.1016/j.asmart.2017.05.102 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 9 ◽

pp. 52-53

Author(s):

Huanghe Song ◽

Wang Qing

Keyword(s):

Rotator Cuff ◽

Clinical Outcomes ◽

Rotator Cuff Repair ◽

Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair ◽

Double Row ◽

Single Row ◽

Suture Bridge ◽

Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff ◽

Cuff Repair ◽

Suture Bridge Technique

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Is the arthroscopic suture bridge technique suitable for full-thickness rotator cuff tears of any size?

Knee Surgery Sports Traumatology Arthroscopy ◽

10.1007/s00167-016-4415-4 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 25 (7) ◽

pp. 2138-2146 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Sung Hyun Lee ◽

Jeong Woo Kim ◽

Tae Kyun Kim ◽

Seok Hyun Kweon ◽

Hong Je Kang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Rotator Cuff ◽

Rotator Cuff Tears ◽

Full Thickness ◽

Suture Bridge ◽

Suture Bridge Technique

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Arthroscopic transtendon suture-bridge technique for concurrent articular- and bursal-side partial-thickness rotator cuff tears

Knee Surgery Sports Traumatology Arthroscopy ◽

10.1007/s00167-009-0827-8 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 17 (12) ◽

pp. 1485-1488 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Kyung Cheon Kim ◽

Kwang Jin Rhee ◽

Hyun Dae Shin ◽

Dong Kyu Kim

Keyword(s):

Rotator Cuff ◽

Rotator Cuff Tears ◽

Suture Bridge ◽

Partial Thickness ◽

Suture Bridge Technique

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Arthroscopic Single-Row Versus Double-Row Suture Bridge Technique for Rotator Cuff Tears in Patients Younger Than 55 Years: A Prospective Comparative Study

The American Journal of Sports Medicine ◽

10.1177/0363546517728718 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 46 (1) ◽

pp. 116-121 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

Michael E. Hantes ◽

Yohei Ono ◽

Vasilios A. Raoulis ◽

Nikolaos Doxariotis ◽

Aaron Venouziou ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Rotator Cuff ◽

Clinical Outcomes ◽

Constant Score ◽

Tendon Healing ◽

Rotator Cuff Tears ◽

Double Row ◽

Single Row ◽

Suture Bridge ◽

Ucla Score ◽

Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff

Background: When arthroscopic rotator cuff repair is performed on a young patient, long-lasting structural and functional tendon integrity is desired. A fixation technique that potentially provides superior tendon healing should be considered for the younger population to achieve long-term clinical success. Hypothesis/Purpose: The purpose was to compare the radiological and clinical midterm results between single-row and double-row (ie, suture bridge) fixation techniques for arthroscopic rotator cuff repair in patients younger than 55 years. We hypothesized that a double-row technique would lead to improved tendon healing, resulting in superior mid- to long-term clinical outcomes. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 2. Methods: A consecutive series of 66 patients younger than 55 years with a medium to large full-thickness tear of supraspinatus and infraspinatus tendons who underwent arthroscopic single-row or double-row (ie, suture bridge) repair were enrolled and prospectively observed. Thirty-four and 32 patients were assigned to single-row and double-row groups, respectively. Postoperatively, tendon integrity was assessed by MRI following Sugaya’s classification at a minimum of 12 months, and clinical outcomes were assessed with the Constant score and the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) score at a minimum of 2 years. Results: Mean follow-up time was 46 months (range, 28-50 months). A higher tendon healing rate was obtained in the double-row group compared with the single-row group (84% and 61%, respectively [ P < .05]). Although no difference in outcome scores was observed between the 2 techniques, patients with healed tendon demonstrated superior clinical outcomes compared with patients who had retorn tendon (UCLA score, 34.2 and 27.6, respectively [ P < .05]; Constant score, 94 and 76, respectively [ P < .05]). Conclusion: The double-row repair technique potentially provides superior tendon healing compared with the single-row technique. Double-row repair should be considered for patients younger than 55 years with medium to large rotator cuff tears.

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