Contact area, contact pressure, and pressure patterns of the tendon-bone interface after rotator cuff repair.
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.
Tuoheti
Yilihamu
Y
Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Akita University School of Medicine, Hondo 1-1-1, Akita 010-8543, Japan.
Itoi
Eiji
E
Yamamoto
Nobuyuki
N
Seki
Nobutoshi
N
Abe
Hidekazu
H
Minagawa
Hiroshi
H
Okada
Kyoji
K
Shimada
Yoichi
Y
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*