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Is the arthroscopic suture bridge technique suitable for full-thickness rotator cuff tears of any size?

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Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy Aims and scope

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to compare functional outcomes and tendon integrity between the suture bridge and modified tension band techniques for arthroscopic rotator cuff repair.

Methods

A consecutive series of 128 patients who underwent the modified tension band (MTB group; 69 patients) and suture bridge (SB group; 59 patients) techniques were enrolled. The pain visual analogue scale (VAS), Constant, and American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) scores were determined preoperatively and at the final follow-up. Rotator cuff hypotrophy was quantified by calculating the occupation ratio (OR). Rotator cuff integrity and the global fatty degeneration index were determined by using magnetic resonance imaging at 6 months postoperatively.

Results

The average VAS, Constant, and ASES scores improved significantly at the final follow-up in both groups (p < 0.05 for all scores). The retear rate of small-to-medium tears was similar in the modified tension band and suture bridge groups (7.0 vs. 6.8%, respectively; p = n.s.). The retear rate of large-to-massive tears was significantly lower in the suture bridge group than in the modified tension band group (33.3 vs. 70%; p = 0.035). Fatty infiltration (postoperative global fatty degeneration index, p = 0.022) and muscle hypotrophy (postoperative OR, p = 0.038) outcomes were significantly better with the suture bridge technique.

Conclusion

The retear rate was lower with the suture bridge technique in the case of large-to-massive rotator cuff tears. Additionally, significant improvements in hypotrophy and fatty infiltration of the rotator cuff were obtained with the suture bridge technique, possibly resulting in better anatomical outcomes. The suture bridge technique was a more effective method for the repair of rotator cuff tears of all sizes as compared to the modified tension band technique.

Level of evidence

Retrospective Cohort Design, Treatment Study, level III.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Wonkwang University Hospital, 344-2 Shinyong-dong, Iksan, Jeollabuk-do, Korea

    Sung Hyun Lee, Jeong Woo Kim, Tae Kyun Kim, Seok Hyun Kweon, Hong Je Kang, Se Jin Kim & Jin Sung Park

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  1. Sung Hyun Lee
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  2. Jeong Woo Kim
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Correspondence to Jeong Woo Kim.

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Conflict of interest

The authors delcare that they have no conflict of interest.

Funding

This paper will be supported by Wonkwang University in 2017.

Ethical approval

This study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of Wonkwang University Hospital (WKUHIRB 201607-HR-081).

Informed consent

Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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Lee, S.H., Kim, J.W., Kim, T.K. et al. Is the arthroscopic suture bridge technique suitable for full-thickness rotator cuff tears of any size?. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 25, 2138–2146 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-016-4415-4

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