Clinical Results of Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair with
Suture Bridge Technique

Abstract

From 2007, we performed arthroscopic rotator cuff repair with suture bridge technique. The purpose of this study was to evaluate clinical and structural outcomes of this technique. The patients with rotator cuff tears, who were treated by suture bridge technique under arthroscopy, were followed for more than 6 months, and assessed for the clinical results by JOA score and repair condition by MRI. Fifty four shoulders of 51 patients (15 female and 37 male) were included in the present study. The average age at surgery was 63.3 years old, and the mean follow up period was 16.7 months. The size of tear preoperatively was 7 partial tear, 5 small tear, 22 midium tear, 12 large tear, 8 massive tear. The repair condition with MRI was classified by Sugaya's classification. JOA score improved from the average of 68.3 points (42 ∼ 92 points) preoperatively to 92.2 points (67 ∼ 100 points) postoperatively. MRI findings revealed 24.1% incidence rate of recurrent rotator cuff tears, and it was 50.0% for large and massive tears. Re-tear was recognized around medial row anchors in 30.8% in the present study. Suture bridge technique for shoulders with large and massive tear was considered to be able to improve clinical outcomes, but may not be able to keep repair integrity.