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Differences between metal and biodegradable suture anchors for arthroscopic rotator cuff repair were not significant
Milano G. Arthroscopy. doi:10.1016/j.arthro.2010.01.030.
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There were no significant differences between metal and biodegradable suture anchors for arthroscopic repair of full-thickness rotator cuff tears, according to results of a level I randomized controlled trial.
In this study, 110 patients underwent arthroscopic repair for full-thickness rotator cuff tears. Giuseppe Milano, MD, Catholic University, Rome, and colleagues divided the patients into two groups of 55 patients, based on the suture anchors used — metal or biodegradable.
The researchers evaluated the results with the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH), Work-DASH self-administered questionnaires and the Constant score, which was normalized for age and sex.
At 2 years, the researchers examined several independent variables: baseline scores, age, sex, arm dominance, location, shape and retraction of cuff tear, fatty degeneration, biceps tendon treatment, rotator cuff repair technique and number of anchors.
Nine patients were lost to follow-up. The researchers found no significant differences between the groups for each variable they studied. In the metal anchor group, the mean DASH score was 17.6±17.2 points, the mean work-DASH was 24.9±28.1 points and the mean Constant score was 104±20.5 points. In the biodegradable anchor group, the mean DASH score was 22.8±19.9 points, the mean work-DASH was 22.5±24.1 and the mean Constant score was 98.6±14.3 points.
The differences between the groups did not reach significance, although narrow confidence intervals were observed. According to univariate and multivariate analyses, only baseline score, age, tear location and fatty degeneration significantly and independently affected outcome, the authors wrote.