Functional Outcome After Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair:Double-row Versus Suture-bridge Technique

Background:Rotator cuff tears is a common disease in the shoulder.With the improvement of arthroscopic technique level,more and more patients who under rotator cuff tears suffering received teatment:arthroscopic rotator cuff repair.Only a few studies have examined functional outcome between the suture-bridge and double-row techniques.Purpose:This study compared the functional outcome and repair integrity of arthroscopic double-row and conventional suture-bridge repair in full-thickness rotator cuff tears.Methods:Forty consecutive full-thickness rotator cuff tears from October 2014 to October 2015 at our hospital that underwent arthroscopic rotator cuff repair were included:20 patients were using double-row technique and another 20 patients were using suture-bridge technique.Clinical and imaging outcomes were evaluated using the University of California at Los Angeles(UCLA),American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons(ASES),Constant scores,Visual analog scale(VAS),Range of Motion(ROM)and Magnetic resonance imaging(MRI).In addition,we compared the degree of satisfation、the operation time and hospital costs between the two groups.Results:At the final follow-up(six mouths postoperative),the average UCLA,ASES,and Constant scores improved significantly,to 33.1.1、89.4.83.5,respectively,in the double-row group and to 31.85、84.6、82.4,respectively,in the suture-bridge group.The UCLA,ASES,and Constant scores improved in both groups postoperatively(P<0.001);however,there was no significant difference between the 2 groups at final follow-up(P = 0.295.0.08 and 0.651,respectively).In addition,both groups showed significant improvement in ROM after surgery(P<0.001).however,there was no significant difference between the 2 groups at final follow-up(P=0.986 and 0.323,respectively in Forward flexion External abduction).The VAS reduced significantly to 2.15 and 1.85 respectively(P<0.001),however,there was no significant difference between the 2 groups at final follow-up(P = 0.389).In the aspects of satisfation,most patients were very satisfied with the efficacy,only three patients thought the results just so so(2 patients in double-row group and 1 in suture-bridge group).The operation time was 107min(75-145)and 92min(65-125)respectively in double-row and suture-bridge groups;hospital costs were 42980RMB and 53908RMB respectively in double-row and suture-bridge groups.The retear was found in 2 patients of double-row group and 1 of suture-bridge group through MRI.Conclusion:Arthroscopic rotator cuff repair can get significant results in patients who have full-thickness rotator cuff tears either using double-row or suture-bridge technique,but there is no significant difference between the 2 technique.