title: Functional outcomes and structural integrity after double-pulley suture bridge rotator cuff repair using serial ultrasonographic examination.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We evaluated the integrity and functional outcomes of rotator cuff tear after performing the double-pulley suture bridge (DPSB) repair technique according to the tear size by using serial ultrasonographic examinations.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 41 consecutive arthroscopic rotator repairs using the DPSB technique. The average follow-up was 28 months. We completed the serial ultrasonographic examinations and compared the results with the functional outcome using the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score, the Constant score, the Korean Shoulder Scoring (KSS) system, and the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) score.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall retear rate was 19.5% (8 of 41), comprising 50% (2 of 4) for massive tears, 18% (2 of 11) for large tears, 17% (4 of 23) for medium tears, and no failures for small tears (0 of 3). The retear rate was 17.6% (6 of 34) after complete repair and 28.6% (2 of 7) after repair with gap formation. Seventy-five percent (6 of 8) of retears were identified within 6 months after operation and 25% (2 of 8) were identified more than 1 year after repair. The functional outcomes of the intact group and the retear group according to the ASES score, the Constant score, the KSS, and the UCLA score were 96, 93, 94, and 33, and 90, 82, 87, and 31, respectively (P > .05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The overall retear rate after DPSB repair was 19.5% with 2 time periods of retear. The outcome improved independent of the tear size and the cuff integrity.
authors.affiliation: Shoulder & Elbow Joint Service, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Daegu Catholic University Medical Center, Daegu, South Korea. chchoi@cu.ac.kr
authors.forename: Chang-Hyuk
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Shin-Kun
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Myung-Rae
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Seung-Hoon
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Baek
authors.forename: Jae-Kun
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Se-Sik
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Chang-Min
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Park
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001182:Arthroscopy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000502:physiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017006:Rotator Cuff / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D000070636:Rotator Cuff Injuries; D012421:Rupture; D000070599:Shoulder Injuries; D012785:Shoulder Joint / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D013536:Suture Techniques; D013537:Sutures; D013708:Tendon Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014463:Ultrasonography