title: Which is the best repair of articular-sided rotator cuff tears: a meta-analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Tear conversion followed by repair and trans-tendon techniques have been widely used for partial-thickness rotator cuff tears. Both of them showed favorable results with regard to the management of articular-sided partial-thickness rotator cuff tears (PTRCTs) of more than 50% thickness. However, controversy continues with the best management. This study aims to compare the clinical outcomes between the two techniques.
  
  
  METHODS
  The PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane library databases were searched for relevant studies published before October 1, 2014. Studies that clearly reported a comparison between the two procedures were selected. The American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons scale (ASES) and the re-tear rate were evaluated. Statistical analysis was performed using the special meta-analysis software called "Comprehensive Meta Analysis".
  
  
  RESULTS
  Final meta-analysis after the full-text review included four studies about tear conversion followed by repair and seven studies about trans-tendon technique. The trans-tendon technique showed no significant difference with the tear conversion followed by repair technique with regard to the ASES scale (P = 0.69). But the re-tear rate (P < 0.05) was markedly lower in the trans-tendon technique group than the tear conversion and repair technique group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In conclusion, the meta-analysis suggests that the trans-tendon technique is better than the tear conversion followed by repair technique with regard to the management of articular-sided PTRCTs of more than 50% thickness in the re-tear rate aspect.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University, School of Medicine, 301 Yanchang Middle Road, Shanghai, 200072, China. 18721566306@163.com.|First Clinical Medical College, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China. 18721566306@163.com.
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Changzhou No. 2 People's Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Jiangsu, China. zqywyx@163.com.
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University, School of Medicine, 301 Yanchang Middle Road, Shanghai, 200072, China. 835364324@qq.com.
authors.forename: Heng'an
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ge
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University, School of Medicine, 301 Yanchang Middle Road, Shanghai, 200072, China. leafsun306@163.com.
authors.forename: Yeqing
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University, School of Medicine, 301 Yanchang Middle Road, Shanghai, 200072, China. cbiaob@163.com.
authors.forename: Biao
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cheng
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D019637:Orthopedic Procedures / Q000379:methods; D017006:Rotator Cuff / Q000601:surgery; D000070636:Rotator Cuff Injuries; D016896:Treatment Outcome