The effect of row number on clinical and life quality outcomes of patients who underwent arthroscopic rotator cuff repair

Abstract

Objective: Shoulder pain and disability are mostly seen following rotator cuff rupture. Arthroscopic rotator cuff repair becomes a gold standard treatment for rotator cuff rupture when conservative treatment fails. Comparing functional results, retear rates and reoperation rates of arthroscopic rotator cuff repair in terms of single-row versus double row techniques is our aim in this study. 
 Material and Method: Overall, 174 arthroscopic rotator cuff surgery patients were specified into 2 groups. Group 1 consists of 81 patients underwent single-row repair and group 2 consists of 93 patients consisted of transosseos equivalent technique double row. We evaluated demographic data and American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons, Constant Murley, Visual analogue scale and 36-item Short Form subscale scores.
 Results: Mean follow-up time was 14.08±4.77 months. ASES, CM and VAS following ARCR were similar between two groups. Some of SF-36 subscale score improvements after operation are significantly better in group 2; role limitations due to physical health (p = 0.041), energy/fatigue (p = 0.026), emotional well-being (p = 0.017), pain (p = 0.010), general health (p = 0.037). Re-rupture rates were significantly different. In group 1 re-rupture rate was 13.6% and for group 2 it was 1.1% (p = 0.001).
 Conclusion: Lower re-rupture rates, and improved quality of life outcomes at short-term follow-up can be obtained by arthroscopic double-row repair. We suggest that the double-row technique can be considered for patients who have medium to large rotator cuff tears for lower re-rupture rates and some quality of life outcomes.