The purpose of this study was to investigate the postoperative results of dual-row method, suture bridge method and massive cuff stitch method. The subjects were 23 patients. Surgery was performed in a beach-chair-lying position under general anesthesia. The extended rotator cuff was sufficiently exfoliated even at the coracoid process and the periphery of the spina scapulae. The rotator cuff stump was sutured with the foot print. The subjects were divided into 3 groups with respect to the suture methods: a group in which the dual-row method was employed (DR group, n=10), a group in which the suture bridge method was employed (SB group, n=6), and a group in which the massive cuff stitch method was employed (MC group, n=7). In these patients, we investigated the pain/total JOA scores, shoulder abductor muscle strength, and presence or absence of re-tears on MRI 1 year after surgery. The re-tear percentage in the DR group was slightly higher than in the other 2 groups, although there were no significant differences in any parameter among the 3 groups. In the dual-row method, an anchor was inserted into an area lateral to the greater tubercle of the humerus. Therefore, this led to excessively tense traction and suture of the rotator cuff. The suture bridge method and massive cuff stitch in which the rotator cuff can be sutured at an appropriate tension via medial foot-print positioning may decrease the incidence of recurrent tears.
