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Both transtendon, tear completion arthroscopic repair significantly improve function
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Use of either the transtendon technique or tear completion for the arthroscopic repair of partial-thickness subscapularis tears associated with full-thickness supraspinatus tears resulted in significant functional outcome improvements, according to study results.
Eighty-one patients who underwent arthroscopic rotator cuff repair for a significant partial-thickness subscapularis tear correlated with a full-thickness supraspinatus tear using a transtendon technique (group T) were retrospectively compared with 28 patients who underwent the procedure using the tear completion technique (group C).
Researchers assessed functional outcomes with VAS, Subjective Shoulder value (SSV), American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score and the University of California – Los Angeles (UCLA) shoulder score. A blinded independent examiner measured forward flexion range of motion, external rotation and internal rotation. Additionally, at 6-month follow-up, patients underwent magnetic resonance arthrography or CT arthrography to assess structural integrity.
At the time of the 2-year follow-up, results showed mean VAS, SSV, ASES and UCLA scores were not significantly different between the two groups, according to the researchers. Active forward flexion improved significantly in group T, from 127° to 144°, and in group C, from 132° to 148°. Additionally, mean external rotation decreased in group T from 55° to 51° and in group C from 55° to 52°, whereas internal rotation improved from 13 to 11 in group T and from 14 to 11 in group C.
The researchers found subscapularis and supraspinatus retear rates were 8% and 15%, respectively, in group T compared with rates of 12% and 15%, respectively, in group C.
The retear rates overall were 19% in group T and 23% in group C. Again, the differences between the two groups were not considered statistically significant, according to the researchers. – by Monica Jaramillo
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.
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