Controlled laboratory study in 30 patients undergoing rotator cuff repair that simultaneously measured intraoperative supraspinatus tendon tension (digital tensiometer) and microvascular blood flow (contact-type laser Doppler flowmeter) at five tendon locations across four tension levels (0, 10, 20, and 30 N) to identify the threshold at which repair tension impairs tissue perfusion.
When tensioning a rotator cuff repair intraoperatively, perfusion data suggest staying below 20 N to avoid measurable ischemia — prior studies already showed retear risk rises sharply above 35 N, so the biologic and structural failure windows are converging on the same principle: less tension, better healing environment.
Use intraoperative tensionmetry when available and prioritize tissue mobilization over high-tension fixation.
Controlled laboratory study in 30 patients undergoing rotator cuff repair that simultaneously measured intraoperative supraspinatus tendon tension (digital tensiometer) and microvascular blood flow (contact-type laser Doppler flowmeter) at five tendon locations across four tension levels (0, 10, 20, and 30 N) to identify the threshold at which repair tension impairs tissue perfusion.
When tensioning a rotator cuff repair intraoperatively, perfusion data suggest staying below 20 N to avoid measurable ischemia — prior studies already showed retear risk rises sharply above 35 N, so the biologic and structural failure windows are converging on the same principle: less tension, better healing environment.
Use intraoperative tensionmetry when available and prioritize tissue mobilization over high-tension fixation.