Abstract
Background: Arthroscopic trans-osseous suture repair of the rotator cuff (ATOS) is a kind of anchor-less arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. The objective of this study is to assess the characteristics of ATOS.
Methods: From December of 2010 to April of 2012, we performed ATOS after arthroscopic subacromial decompression on thirty-two patients. The size of tear of the rotator cuff was measured by MRI, functional outcome (The points of pain, function, range of motion of Japanese Orthopaedic Association Score), postoperative repair integrity (MRI evaluation by Sugaya's classification), and operation time were researched.
Results: The distribution of size of cuff tear were a bursal side tear, 10 small tears, 8 medium tears, 4 massive tears, and 9 global tears. Each item of the JOA score improved as follows, pain; 9 to 25 points, function; 11 to 18 points, and ROM; 24 to 27 points, respectively. Repair integrity were generally good: type I; 14 cases, type II; 10 cases, type III; 4 cases. Type IV; 3 cases and type V; 1 cases were regarded as failure of cuff repair. The average operation time was 137 minutes, but the data of the latest month was 100 minutes.
Conclusion: The surgical results of ATOS were good. Though the procedure needs maturity, ATOS is not time consuming surgery.
