The rotator cuff tear repair with a new arthroscopic transosseous system: the Sharc-FT(®)

Today, in rotator cuff tear repair, the transosseous sutures are considered superior from a biological and biomechanical point of view. Our purpose is to present the early clinical and biomechanical data of a new arthroscopic rotator cuff tear transosseous repair system: the Sharc-FT®.

A total of 34 patients with rotator cuff tear affecting supraspinatus and infraspinatus, 1 to 3 cm wide, were treated and evaluated from 2010 to 2013. The average age was 63.2 years. Mean follow-up was 18.6 months. All patients were assessed through Constant score in the preoperative step and at 3-, 6-, and 12-month follow-up, performing an MRI 6 months after surgery.

The patients have shown a mean preoperative Constant score of 24.5 pt that constantly increases after surgery, until a mean value of 86.9 at 12 months. Regarding complications two cases of adhesive capsulitis were recorded.

This device permits to obtain transosseous sutures with cortical fixation; to greatly reduce the problems of lack of bone resistance; to decrease motion at tendon-footprint interface improving fatigue resistance; to make the stress-load distribution homogeneous at the footprint, thus optimizing biological healing. A later evaluation will be necessary, especially for the incidence of retears.