Clinical Research Of Rotator Cuff Full-thickness Tear In Mid-aged And Elderly People By Arthroscopic Suture-bridge Surgery

1 ObjectiveTo evaluate the clinical results after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair using a suture-bridge technique in mid-aged and elderly people.2 Material and methodsBetween December 2012 and April 2014,86 patients with rotator cuff full-thickness tear were treated by arthroscopic suture-bridge technique.The mean age was 62.4±5.6(51-78) years;male 32,femal 54;left shoulders in 20 cases,right 66 cases.75 cases involving the dominant shoulder.The preoperative course of disease was from 3 months to 35 months,the average duration of 13.6 months. According to the examination of shoulder、X ray and MRI,operation scheme were determined.86 patients were treated by using suture-bridging technique. The visual analog pain scale scores(VAS), the range of motion(ROM), the rating scale of the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA), and the shoulder index of the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) were determined as the evaluation criteria.3 ResultsThe VAS score decreased significantly from preoperative(6.3±3.2) to (0.8±1.4) at rest (t=5.34,P=0.03), and from preoperative (7.7±2.1) to (1.7±1.6) during motion (t=5.66,P=0.02). Flexion angle from preoperative(110°±52°)to(146°±28°)(t=4.56, P=0.02);the abduction angle from preoperative (105°±53°)to (140°±22°) (t=4.54, P=0.03);body side exteral rotation angle from preoperative (31°±14°) to (35°±10°) (t=4.52, P=0.04). The UCLA score improved significantly from (15.1±4.6) preoperatively to (30.2±2.5) at follow-up (t=5.78,P=0.02). The ASES shoulder index improved significantly from (30.2±16) preoperatively to (80.4±13) at follow-up (t=5.74,P=0.03). The ROM improved significantly.4 ConclusionsThe results of this study indicate that the arthroscopic suture-bridge technique is an effective and reliable treatment for patients with rotator full-thickness cuff tear in mid-aged and elderly people. Though the reasonable choice of the anchor, strict operation indication and the reasonablerehabilitation,retear of rotator cuff can be avoided.