Comparison of debridement versus suture in large rotator cuff tears: long-term study of 64 shoulders.
BACKGROUND
The goal of this study is to determine whether suturing is superior to non-closure in terms of the subjective long-term outcome in large rotator cuff tears.


METHODS
A total of 64 shoulders with rotator cuff tears of at least 3 cm diameter and followed up for a mean period of 5 years and 8 months were retrospectively examined. The patients' medical history, clinical findings, radiographs and Constant scores were studied. Patients whose tears had been closed with an open suture (n=33) were compared with those whose tears had not been closed (n=31).


RESULTS
Neither the comparison between open suturing and debridement nor that between open and arthroscopic debridement reveal a significant difference with regard to the overall Constant score or the individual parameters.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that in the long-term, suturing of large rotator cuff tears is not superior to debridement.
Motycka
Thomas
T
1st Department of the Orthopaedic Hospital Vienna-Speising, Speisinger Str. 109, 1130 Vienna, Austria. thomas.motycka@oss.at
Lehner
Alexander
A
Landsiedl
Franz
F
D001182:Arthroscopy; D003646:Debridement; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D009999:Ossification, Heterotopic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D011859:Radiography; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D017006:Rotator Cuff / Q000601:surgery*; D000070636:Rotator Cuff Injuries; D012785:Shoulder Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D013537:Sutures