title: Rotator cuff repair fluid extravasation characteristics are influenced by repair technique.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study evaluates rotator cuff repair fluid extravasation characteristics for different rotator cuff repair techniques.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eight fresh-frozen cadaveric shoulders were dissected free of soft tissues, with the glenohumeral joint capsule and rotator cuff muscles being left intact. A custom fluid infusion device was used to deliver fluid at constant pressure into the glenohumeral joint. The shoulders were tested in conditions of (1) intact rotator cuff, (2) supraspinatus tear, (3) repaired supraspinatus tear with a single-row technique, and (4) repaired supraspinatus tear with a double-row suture bridge technique.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The volume per minute of saline solution extravasation for single-row repair and double-row suture bridge repair was 48.53 mL/min and 11.73 mL/min, respectively, at 2 psi; 73.3 _ 24.1 mL/min and 24.5 _ 19.7 mL/min, respectively, at 3 psi; and 95.2 _ 22.6 mL/min and 39.2 _ 23.8 mL/min, respectively, at 4 psi. There was a statistically significant greater fluid extravasation for the single-row repair compared with the double-row suture bridge repair at all 3 pressures tested (P < .05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Single-row rotator cuff repair exposes the healing zone to greater extravasation of fluid compared with double-row suture bridge repair. Therefore, double-row repair potentially enhances rotator cuff healing.
  
  
  METHODS
  Controlled laboratory study.
authors.affiliation: Center for Shoulder, Elbow, and Sports Medicine, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA. CSA4@columbia.edu
authors.forename: Christopher S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Ahmad
authors.forename: George Christian
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Vorys
authors.forename: Aaron
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Covey
authors.forename: William N
authors.initials: WN
authors.lastname: Levine
authors.forename: Thomas R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Gardner
authors.forename: Louis U
authors.initials: LU
authors.lastname: Bigliani
mesh_terms: D002102:Cadaver; D005119:Extravasation of Diagnostic and Therapeutic Materials / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019637:Orthopedic Procedures / Q000379:methods; D017006:Rotator Cuff / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D000070636:Rotator Cuff Injuries