title: Rotator cuff tears: the effect of the reconstruction method on three-dimensional repair site area.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To quantitatively determine the 3-dimensional (3-D) area of the original supraspinatus insertion and compare it with the repair-site area after 4 reconstructions of a simulated supraspinatus tear.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ex vivo biomechanical study.
  
  
  METHODS
  The outline of the original supraspinatus insertion was obtained in 10 human cadaveric shoulders using a 3-D digitizer. A supraspinatus tear was created and 4 repair techniques were evaluated: transosseous simple suture (TOS), transosseous mattress suture (TOM), suture-anchor simple suture (SAS), suture-anchor mattress suture (SAM). The 3-D outlines of the reconstructed supraspinatus insertion were digitized after each repair. The outlines of the original supraspinatus insertion and repair areas were superimposed onto humeral geometry obtained from a laser scanner, and surface areas were calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The original supraspinatus insertion area was larger than any of the repair-site areas (P <.05). On average, TOS provided a 20% larger repair-site area than the other repairs (P <.05). Repair-site areas were not different among TOM, SAS, or SAM repairs (P >.05) and covered 67% of the original supraspinatus insertion.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  None of the tested repairs restored the area of the original supraspinatus insertion. The larger repair-site area of the TOS repair suggests that this technique provides better potential for healing and, ultimately, greater strength of repair.
authors: Orthopedic Biomechanics Laboratory, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, USA. maprelev@caregroup.harvard.edu
authors: Maria
authors: M
authors: Apreleva
authors: Mehmet
authors: M
authors: Ozbaydar
authors: Peter G
authors: PG
authors: Fitzgibbons
authors: Jon J P
authors: JJ
authors: Warner
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002102:Cadaver; D003198:Computer Simulation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006811:Humerus / Q000473:pathology; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008297:Male; D008954:Models, Biological; D017006:Rotator Cuff / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D000070636:Rotator Cuff Injuries; D012785:Shoulder Joint / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D013536:Suture Techniques