Shin, Arthroscopy 2012 - A Comparison of 2 Repair Techniques for Partial-Thickness Articular-Sided Rotator Cuff Tears

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A Comparison of 2 Repair Techniques for Partial-Thickness Articular-Sided Rotator Cuff Tears

Shin·Arthroscopy·2012·137 citations

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Shin randomized high‑grade partial articular‑sided tears to transtendon repair or to completing the tear and repairing it, comparing recovery, final function and healing.

Randomized trial of 48 patients by one surgeon in Seoul, 2006 to 2008, 24 per group, with MRI at 6 months and a mean 31.3‑month follow‑up.

Key Findings

Both groups improved substantially: ASES rose from 50.8 to 89.1 after transtendon repair and from 49.2 to 86.2 after tear completion, with no difference at final follow‑up.
Transtendon patients had more pain at 3 months (VAS 5.9 vs 2.8) and lower ASES (54.9 vs 64.6) and Constant scores (57.9 vs 70.8). By 6 months all had pain relief.
Motion recovered significantly faster after tear completion over the first 6 months.
22 of 24 patients were satisfied in each group. Adhesive capsulitis developed in 3 transtendon and 2 completion patients, and one needed a release.
The trial was powered for a 12‑point ASES difference, and all operations were by one surgeon at one center.

Board pearl

Neither technique was shown to heal better. All transtendon repairs and 22 of 24 completed repairs were intact on 6‑month MRI, with no statistical comparison reported, and both retear patients scored as well as the rest.

Authors' conclusion

Arthroscopic repair of partial-thickness articular-sided rotator cuff tears exceeding 50% of the tendon thickness provided satisfactory functional improvements and pain relief regardless of the repair technique. Although repair after conversion to a full-thickness tear showed less postoperative morbidity, tendon integrity is of primary concern after repair. On the other hand, the transtendon repair technique resulted in complete tendon integrity but slower functional recovery.

A Comparison of 2 Repair Techniques for Partial-Thickness Articular-Sided Rotator Cuff Tears.

ShinArthroscopy2012137 citations

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A Comparison of 2 Repair Techniques for Partial-Thickness Articular-Sided Rotator Cuff Tears

Shin·Arthroscopy·2012·137 citations

|||

Shin randomized high‑grade partial articular‑sided tears to transtendon repair or to completing the tear and repairing it, comparing recovery, final function and healing.

Randomized trial of 48 patients by one surgeon in Seoul, 2006 to 2008, 24 per group, with MRI at 6 months and a mean 31.3‑month follow‑up.

Key Findings

Both groups improved substantially: ASES rose from 50.8 to 89.1 after transtendon repair and from 49.2 to 86.2 after tear completion, with no difference at final follow‑up.
Transtendon patients had more pain at 3 months (VAS 5.9 vs 2.8) and lower ASES (54.9 vs 64.6) and Constant scores (57.9 vs 70.8). By 6 months all had pain relief.
Motion recovered significantly faster after tear completion over the first 6 months.
22 of 24 patients were satisfied in each group. Adhesive capsulitis developed in 3 transtendon and 2 completion patients, and one needed a release.
The trial was powered for a 12‑point ASES difference, and all operations were by one surgeon at one center.

Board pearl

Neither technique was shown to heal better. All transtendon repairs and 22 of 24 completed repairs were intact on 6‑month MRI, with no statistical comparison reported, and both retear patients scored as well as the rest.

Authors' conclusion

Arthroscopic repair of partial-thickness articular-sided rotator cuff tears exceeding 50% of the tendon thickness provided satisfactory functional improvements and pain relief regardless of the repair technique. Although repair after conversion to a full-thickness tear showed less postoperative morbidity, tendon integrity is of primary concern after repair. On the other hand, the transtendon repair technique resulted in complete tendon integrity but slower functional recovery.

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