title: Contact area, contact pressure, and pressure patterns of the tendon-bone interface after rotator cuff repair.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The contact pressure and contact area at the tendon-bone interface after the most commonly used rotator cuff repair methods have not been investigated.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  There are no significant differences among the transosseous, the single-row suture anchor, and the double-row suture anchor techniques in terms of contact pressure, contact area, and pressure patterns at the tendon-bone interface.
  
  
  METHODS
  Controlled laboratory study.
  
  
  METHODS
  After creating a full-thickness supraspinatus tendon tear in 10 cadaveric shoulder specimens, we inserted pressure-sensitive film between the tendon stump and the bone, and we repaired the tear by (1) transosseous, (2) single-row suture anchor, and (3) double-row suture anchor techniques.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The contact area of the double-row technique was 42% greater than that of the transosseous technique (P < .0001) and 60% greater than that of the single-row technique. The contact area of the transosseous technique was 31% greater than that of the single-row technique (P = .0015). The average pressures of the single-row and double-row techniques were 18% (P = .014) and 16% (P = .03) greater, respectively, than that of the transosseous technique, but there was no significant difference between the single-row and double-row techniques (P = .915).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The double-row technique produced the greatest contact area and the second-highest contact pressure, whereas the single-row technique created the highest contact pressure and the least contact area. The transosseous technique produced the second-greatest contact area and the least contact pressure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The double-row suture anchor technique and the transosseous technique may provide a better environment for tendon healing.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Akita University School of Medicine, Hondo 1-1-1, Akita 010-8543, Japan.
authors.forename: Yilihamu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tuoheti
authors.forename: Eiji
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Itoi
authors.forename: Nobuyuki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: Nobutoshi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Seki
authors.forename: Hidekazu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Abe
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Minagawa
authors.forename: Kyoji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Okada
authors.forename: Yoichi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shimada
mesh_terms: D020341:Absorbable Implants; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002102:Cadaver; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010781:Photography / Q000295:instrumentation; D011312:Pressure; D017006:Rotator Cuff / Q000601:surgery*; D000070636:Rotator Cuff Injuries; D000070599:Shoulder Injuries; D012785:Shoulder Joint / Q000601:surgery*; D013536:Suture Techniques; D013708:Tendon Injuries; D013710:Tendons / Q000601:surgery*