Abstract
Background: Bursal-side partial thickness rotator cuff tears (PTRCTs) are frequent lesions with the treatment of multiple surgical techniques. However, to the best of our knowledge, no single knotless-anchor with two Ethicon 2# repair technique has been reported.Methods: Bursal-side PTRCTs (Ellman type III, 75% thickness of tears) were created in the supraspinatus tendon on 16 fresh-frozen cadaveric shoulders. The specimens were randomized into two groups of 8 each: (1) Group A (Transtendon repairs), a single knotless-anchor repair with two Ethicon 2#, (2) Group B, the Conversion repair (Double-row, DR). Each specimen underwent cyclic loading test from 5 to 100 N by 50 cycles, then followed by an ultimate failure test. The displacement of greater tuberosity (mm) and ultimate (N) were recorded.Results: Compared with the load-to-failure test, there was no significant difference between Group A and B (Group A, 359.25±17.91N; Group B, 374.38±13.75 N, P>0.05). There were also no significant differences in the rotator cuff displacement of 10 mm(Group A, 190.50±8.52N; Group B, 197.25±6.84, P>0.05) and 15mm (Group A, 282.25±12.20 N; Group B, 291.13±14.74 N, P>0.05). However, concerning the displacement of 3 mm and 5mm, we found a significant difference in these two groups (P<0.05).Conclusions: A single knotless-anchor with two Ethicon 2# for Bursal-side Ellman III PTRCTs is a simple, cheap, and effective technique that we could choose.