Equivalent clinical results of arthroscopic single-row and double-row suture anchor repair for rotator cuff tears: a randomized controlled trial.
BACKGROUND
Restoring the anatomical footprint may improve the healing and mechanical strength of repaired tendons. A double row of suture anchors increases the tendon-bone contact area, reconstituting a more anatomical configuration of the rotator cuff footprint.


OBJECTIVE
There is no difference in clinical and imaging outcome between single-row and double-row suture anchor technique repairs of rotator cuff tears.


METHODS
Randomized controlled trial; Level of evidence, 1.


METHODS
The authors recruited 60 patients. In 30 patients, rotator cuff repair was performed with a single-row suture anchor technique (group 1). In the other 30 patients, rotator cuff repair was performed with a double-row suture anchor technique (group 2).


RESULTS
Eight patients (4 in the single-row anchor repair group and 4 in the double-row anchor repair group) did not return at the final follow-up. At the 2-year follow-up, no statistically significant differences were seen with respect to the University of California, Los Angeles score and range of motion values. At 2-year follow-up, postoperative magnetic resonance arthrography in group 1 showed intact tendons in 14 patients, partial-thickness defects in 10 patients, and full-thickness defects in 2 patients. In group 2, magnetic resonance arthrography showed an intact rotator cuff in 18 patients, partial-thickness defects in 7 patients, and full-thickness defects in 1 patient.


CONCLUSIONS
Single- and double-row techniques provide comparable clinical outcome at 2 years. A double-row technique produces a mechanically superior construct compared with the single-row method in restoring the anatomical footprint of the rotator cuff, but these mechanical advantages do not translate into superior clinical performance.
Franceschi
Francesco
F
Department of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery, Campus Biomedico University, Via Longoni, 83 Rome, Italy. osa14@keele.ac.uk
Ruzzini
Laura
L
Longo
Umile Giuseppe
UG
Martina
Francesca Maria
FM
Zobel
Bruno Beomonte
BB
Maffulli
Nicola
N
Denaro
Vincenzo
V
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001182:Arthroscopy / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015141:Los Angeles; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017006:Rotator Cuff / Q000601:surgery*; D000070636:Rotator Cuff Injuries; D053441:Suture Anchors; D013536:Suture Techniques