[Arthroscopic repair of rotator cuff tear with five different methods]

To discuss and evaluate the diagnose and surgical techniques of rotator cuff tear with arthroscopic repair and its clinical results.

From November 2006 to April 2008, 22 patients with rotator cuff tear were treated by arthroscopic repair using 5 different methods. There were 13 males and 9 females, aged 28-51 years old (mean 37.9 years old). The locations were left shoulder in 6 cases and right shoulder in 16 cases. Eleven cases underwent shoulder joint injury and other 11 cases had no inducement. According to Bigliani acromion classification, there were 12 cases of type II and 10 cases of type III. There were 5 bursa-side tear, 3 articular-side tear, and 14 full thickness tear. The disease course was 5 months to 6 years (mean 16.6 months). After all the patients underwent acromioplasty, 4 cases were treated by debridement of rotator cuff, 7 cases by single roll suture anchor, 4 cases by double suture anchors, 3 cases by triple suture anchors, and 4 cases by transosseous technique suture.

Incision healed by first intention and no complications occurred in all patients. Twenty-two cases were followed up 12-26 months (mean 15.6 months). The active forward flexion and abduction at the last follow-up were over 150 degrees in 21 cases, 90-120 degrees in 1 case. Postoperatively, the forward flexion strength was grade 5 in 20 cases and grade 4 in 2 cases. The score of University of California Los Angeles, the pain score, the function score, the forward flexion score, the forward flexion strength were improved significantly when compared with preoperation (P < 0.05). The results were excellent in 13 cases and good in 9 cases, the excellent and good rate was 100%.

Depending on the correct diagnoses, 5 different methods of rotator cuff repair are used according to the different changes of shoulders, the outcome is good in all cases.