Early Structural and Functional Outcomes for Arthroscopic Double Row Transosseous Equivalent Rotator Cuff Repair (SS-02)

Abstract

Several investigators have studied the clinical outcomes after arthroscopic repair and have reported that the short-term clinical outcomes are comparable. However, the influence of the repair technique on the failure rates and functional outcomes after open or arthroscopic rotator cuff repair remains controversial. Several studies have evaluated biomechanical strength, contact area, and failure modes of single-row suture anchor, double-row suture anchor, as well as transosseous repairs and their ability to restore native the native rotator cuff. We present here out data from 155 consecutive patients who underwent double-row transosseous equivalent (suture bridge technique) rotator cuff repairs. Between June 2006 and October 2007, 225 patients underwent the arthroscopic double-row transosseous equivalent repair of a torn rotator cuff at two surgical centers. One hundred and fifty-five of these patients were available for follow up at an average of 15 months postoperatively. At this evaluation, patients had either an MRI or CT arthrogram of the operative shoulder. The Constant scores, pain ranking (0-15 scale), forward flexion and strength were also collected at the follow up examination. Failure rates were determined based on analysis of the radiographic outcomes. During this period 155 patients were clinically and radiologically evaluated at a mean of 15 months (5.5-26.1). 54% male 46% female at an average age of 57.73 years (18-80). 47, 89, 19 patients had Patte type I, II, III lesions (respectively). Mean preoperative Constant Score improved from 44.21 (23-66) to 80.41 (40-96) p<0.001 at follow up. Mean preoperative pain score improved from 3.83 (0-10) to 12.83 (5-15) p<0.001 at follow up. Mean preoperative forward flexion improved form 122.22 (60-170) to 162.44 (15-170) p<0.001. 35% (54 patients) had an arthrogram, 65% (100 patients) had an MRI and 0.7% (1 patient) during or after their follow up evaluation. Imaging demonstrated that 92%, 80%, 58% of the Type I, II, III lesions respectively were intact at follow up. The results of this study indicate that the transosseous equivalent double-row rotator cuff repair (the suture bridge technique) has excellent results at greater than 1 year follow up.