Magnetic resonance imaging tendon integrity assessment after arthroscopic partial-thickness rotator cuff repair

Our goal was to assess the integrity of the repaired rotator cuff in patients with partial-thickness rotator cuff tears who underwent a technique of tear completion followed by surgical repair, using post-repair magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at a minimum of 2 years' follow-up.

An all-arthroscopic surgical technique was used for these marked partial-thickness tears, by use of double-loaded footprint anchors and/or lateral sutures or anchors as appropriate for tissue quality. A total of 22 patients who had completion of the tear followed by repair were reimaged with 2-sequence noncontrast MRI to determine the integrity of the rotator cuff repair at a minimum of 2 years postoperatively.

Of the 22 patients, 18 (82%) had no evidence of a full-thickness or near full-thickness defect on follow-up MRI. The presence of a defect on follow-up MRI (18%) did not correlate with clinical results. Younger patients showed a trend toward maintaining better integrity.

In 18 of 22 patients (82%) with partial-thickness rotator cuff tears treated with tear completion followed by surgical repair, there was no evidence of a full-thickness or near full-thickness defect on follow-up MRI at a minimum of 2 years. The patient's age may be an important factor in tendon healing.

Level IV, therapeutic case series.