The purpose of this study was to investigate the re-tear rate after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair (ARCR) using bioabsorbable suture anchors using MRI.
We studied 69 patients with 70 shoulders and who underwent ARCR using bioabsorbable suture anchors and had postoperative MRI examinations performed. 53 were males and 17 were females. The average age was 62 years old (38-83 years old) and the average period from ARCR to MRI was 7 months (6-12months). MRI findings were classified according to Sugaya's classification. According to Sugaya's classification, all 4 small tear cases were classified type I or II. 1 of 9 shoulders in incomplete tear cases, 2 of 33 shoulders in medium tear cases, 9 of 19 in large tear cases and 3 of 5 in massive tear cases were classified type IV or V implied complete retear. Retear rate after ARCR was 6.5 % in partial, small and medium tear cases and 50 % in large and massive tear cases.
A high incidence of retear was observed in the large and massive tear shoulders.
ARCR with bioabsorbable anchors is an effective option because the retear rate using bioabsorbable anchors is equal with that using metal anchors.
