BACKGROUND Rotator cuff retears after surgical repair are associated with poorer subjective and objectives clinical outcomes than intact repairs. PURPOSE The aims of this study were to (1) examine the biomechanical differences between rotator cuff repair using No. 2 suture and tape in an ovine model and (2) compare early clinical outcomes between patients who had rotator cuff repair with tape...

Rotator cuff repair depends on both the fixation strength of the chosen repair construct and the local healing response of the repaired tissue. Among a growing discussion surrounding the superiority of one surgical technique over another, the surgeon's ability to complete a rotator cuff repair with technical acuity in a timely manner remains paramount. Double-row repairs as well as rip-stop con...

In an effort to increase the immediate strength of a rotator cuff repair and to simulate the standard open reconstruction with its effective suture fixation, we have developed a novel technique for suture anchor reconstruction of the rotator cuff. The technique, termed mattress double anchor (MDA), is simple and adaptable. It makes use of 2 suture anchors that are placed independently and then ...

Massive rotator cuff tears are particularly challenging to treat and severely limit the function of the shoulder. Compared with a small rotator cuff tear, massive tears are more unpredictable and usually present with low tendon quality. When performing an anatomical repair of the rotator cuff, the surgical treatment is often associated with failure of the construct. An alternative procedure tha...

BACKGROUND Recent reports on concurrent arthroscopic rotator cuff and type II superior labral anterior posterior (SLAP) repair have raised concerns over postoperative stiffness and patient satisfaction. However, it is unclear if the observed stiffness relates to the repair of degenerative SLAP tears in older adults, the surgical technique, the postoperative rehabilitation, or to a combination o...

BACKGROUND Arthroscopic rotator cuff repair has traditionally been performed in the subacromial space from the bursal side of the tendon. The undersurface rotator cuff repair technique involves the arthroscope remaining in the glenohumeral joint, thus viewing the tendon from its undersurface during repair without a bursectomy or acromioplasty. PURPOSE To compare the clinical and structural ou...

Subacromial decompression and debridement of partial-thickness bursal-sided rotator cuff tears are often reported with a high rate of unsatisfactory outcomes. We describe an arthroscopic procedure to repair partial-thickness bursal-sided rotator cuff tears without converting to a full-thickness tear in patients with a normal articular-sided rotator cuff and an A0B2 or A0B3 pattern of tear (mini...

The goal of this study was to review the authors' initial experience with arthroscopic transosseous rotator cuff repair. Thirty-one patients with full-thickness rotator cuff tears underwent arthroscopic transosseous rotator cuff repair over a 15-month period. Preoperatively, demographics and subjective scores were recorded. Postoperatively, pain levels, subjective shoulder values, satisfaction ...

O ver the past two decades, arthroscopic rotator cuff repair has become one of the most popular orthopaedic surgical procedures because of its proven ability to diminish pain and improve function in patients with symptomatic rotator cuff tears. As a result of this increasing demand, arthroscopic techniques have evolved rapidly in an effort to improve structural integrity, biomechanical function...

BACKGROUND Rotator cuff tears are a common source of shoulder pain and disability. Even after surgical repair, some patients continue to have reduced function and progression of fatty degeneration. Because patients with chronic cuff tears often experience muscle shortening, it is possible that repairing the tendon to its anatomic footprint induces a stretch-induced muscle injury that could cont...