Arthroscopic Bone Tunnel Augmentation for Rotator Cuff Repair

Abstract

Transosseous repair of the rotator cuff has been shown to recreate the anatomic rotator cuff footprint in a secure and cost-efficient manner. However, the potential for sutures cutting through bone remains a concern with this strategy. Devices have been used successfully during open transosseous rotator cuff repair to augment the bone tunnels, potentially avoiding suture cut-out through the weak bone of the greater tuberosity. Recently, arthroscopic transosseous fixation of rotator cuff tears has become an alternative to arthroscopic suture anchor and open transosseous techniques. This method is expected to have the same potential pitfalls at the bone-suture interface as the open technique. The authors describe a technique for rotator cuff repair using a secure method of arthroscopic bone tunnel augmentation.