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A Novel Arthroscopic Medial Knot-Tying Suture-Bridge Repair with Rip-Stop Technique for Rotator Cuff Tears
Published on: January 13, 2026
Ease of tying arthroscopic knots.
Keith M Baumgarten1, Rick W Wright
1Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine/Barnes-Jewish Hospital, St Louis, MO, USA. Kbaumga@yahoo.com <Kbaumga@yahoo.com>
Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery
|May 18, 2007
Summary
This study identified the easiest arthroscopic knots for surgeons to learn. The Revo knot is recommended for novices, with Ethibond sutures proving easier than polydioxanone (PDS) II sutures.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedic Surgery
- Surgical Skills Training
Background:
- Arthroscopic knot tying is a critical surgical skill.
- A lack of comprehensive data exists on the learning curve for various arthroscopic knots.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine and rank the ease of learning and tying 10 common arthroscopic knots.
- To compare knot-tying difficulty using two common suture materials.
Main Methods:
- 23 surgical trainees evaluated 10 arthroscopic knots.
- Ease of learning and tying was assessed using a 10-cm visual analog scale.
- Sutures used were No. 2 Ethibond and No. 1 polydioxanone (PDS) II.
Main Results:
- The Tennessee slider, Duncan loop, Revo knot, and Nicky's knot were rated easiest.
- The Field knot and double-twist knot were consistently the most difficult.
- Ethibond sutures were found to be easier to tie than PDS II sutures.
Conclusions:
- The Revo knot is recommended for novice surgeons learning arthroscopic knot tying.
- Mastery of simpler knots like the Revo knot can facilitate learning more complex techniques.
