title: Clinical Outcomes of Modified Mason-Allen Single-Row Repair for Bursal-Sided Partial-Thickness Rotator Cuff Tears: Comparison With the Double-Row Suture-Bridge Technique.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Various repair techniques have been reported for the operative treatment of bursal-sided partial-thickness rotator cuff tears. Recently, arthroscopic single-row repair using a modified Mason-Allen technique has been introduced.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The arthroscopic, modified Mason-Allen single-row technique with preservation of the articular-sided tendon provides satisfactory clinical outcomes and similar results to the double-row suture-bridge technique after conversion of a partial-thickness tear to a full-thickness tear.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective study was conducted on 84 consecutive patients with symptomatic, bursal-sided partial-thickness rotator cuff tears involving more than 50% thickness of the tendon. A total of 47 patients were treated by the modified Mason-Allen single-row repair technique, preserving the articular-sided tendon, and 37 patients were treated by the double-row suture-bridge repair technique after conversion to a full-thickness tear. The clinical and functional outcomes were evaluated using the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) and Constant scores and a visual analog scale (VAS) for pain and satisfaction of patients. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used to analyze the integrity of tendons at 6-month follow-up. Patients were followed up for a mean of 32.5 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the 47 patients treated with the modified Mason-Allen suture technique, the VAS score decreased from a preoperative mean of 5.3 ± 0.3 to 0.9 ± 0.5 at the time of final follow-up. There was a statistically significant increase in the mean ASES score (from 45.4 ± 2.9 to 88.6 ± 4.5) and mean Constant score (from 66.9 ± 2.6 to 88.1 ± 2.4) (P < .001). Four of 47 patients (8.5%) demonstrated retears at 6-month postoperative MRI. There was no statistical difference in terms of functional outcomes and the retear rate compared with those of patients with the suture-bridge repair technique (3 patients, 8.1%). However, the mean number of suture anchors used in the patients with modified Mason-Allen suture repair (1.2 ± 0.4) was significantly fewer than that in the patients with suture-bridge repair (3.2 ± 0.4) (P < .01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The modified Mason-Allen single-row repair technique that preserved the articular-sided tendon provided satisfactory clinical outcomes in patients with symptomatic, bursal-sided partial-thickness rotator cuff tears. Despite a fewer number of suture anchors, the shoulder functional outcomes and retear rate in patients after modified Mason-Allen repair were comparable with those of patients who underwent double-row suture-bridge repair. Therefore, the modified Mason-Allen single-row repair technique using a triple-loaded suture anchor can be considered as an effective treatment in patients with bursal-sided partial-thickness rotator cuff tears.
authors.affiliation: Global Top 5 Research Program, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital, Seoul, Korea sjshin622@ewha.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Sang-Jin
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.affiliation: Global Top 5 Research Program, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Seung-Hwan
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Kook
authors.affiliation: Global Top 5 Research Program, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Nandan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rao
authors.affiliation: Global Top 5 Research Program, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Myeong-Jae
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Seo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001182:Arthroscopy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D022125:Lacerations / Q000601:surgery; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011184:Postoperative Period; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017006:Rotator Cuff / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D000070636:Rotator Cuff Injuries; D012782:Shoulder / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D000070599:Shoulder Injuries; D053441:Suture Anchors; D013536:Suture Techniques; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: bursal-sided partial-thickness rotator cuff tear; double-row suture-bridge repair; modified Mason-Allen single-row repair