title: Repair integrity and functional outcome after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair: double-row versus suture-bridge technique.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Only a few studies have examined repair integrity and functional outcome after arthroscopic suture-bridge rotator cuff repair procedure. In addition, no reported study has compared outcomes between the suture-bridge and double-row techniques.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study compared the functional outcome and repair integrity of arthroscopic double-row and conventional suture-bridge repair in full-thickness rotator cuff tears.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cohort study; Level of evidence, 2.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-two consecutive full-thickness rotator cuff tears with 1 to 4 cm of anterior to posterior dimension that underwent arthroscopic rotator cuff repair were included. A double-row technique was used in the first 26 consecutive shoulders, and a conventional suture-bridge technique was used in the next 26 consecutive shoulders. Fifty shoulders (92.5%) underwent magnetic resonance imaging or ultrasonography postoperatively. Clinical outcomes were evaluated a minimum 2 years (mean, 37.2 months; range, 24-54) postoperatively using the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA), American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES), and Constant scores. The postoperative cuff integrity was evaluated a mean of 33.0 (range, 10-54) months postoperatively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At the final follow-up, the average UCLA, ASES, and Constant scores improved significantly, to 32.3, 90.5, and 80.7, respectively, in the double-row group and to 30.6, 88.5, and 74.0, respectively, in the suture-bridge group. The UCLA, ASES, and Constant scores improved in both groups postoperatively (all P < .001); however, there was no significant difference between the 2 groups at final follow-up (P = .185, .585, and .053, respectively). The retear rate was 24% in the shoulders that underwent double-row repair and 20% in the shoulders that underwent suture-bridge repair; this difference was not statistically significant (P = .733).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The arthroscopic conventional suture-bridge technique resulted in comparable patient satisfaction, functional outcome, and rates of retear compared with the arthroscopic double-row technique in full-thickness rotator cuff tears.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Chungnam National University School of Medicine, Daejeon, South Korea.. kckim@cnu.ac.kr
authors.forename: Kyung Cheon
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hyun Dae
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Woo Yong
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Sun Cheol
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Han
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001182:Arthroscopy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D012008:Recurrence; D017006:Rotator Cuff / Q000502:physiology* / Q000601:surgery*; D000070636:Rotator Cuff Injuries; D000070599:Shoulder Injuries; D012785:Shoulder Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D020069:Shoulder Pain / Q000209:etiology; D013536:Suture Techniques; D013708:Tendon Injuries / Q000601:surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014463:Ultrasonography