Mid-term clinical outcome following rotator cuff repair using all-suture anchors

Symptomatic rotator cuff tears can cause significant pain and functional disturbance, with associated financial ramifications. Non-surgical management should always be considered initially, however if recalcitrant to these measures surgical intervention may involve open, arthroscopic-assisted mini-open or arthroscopic rotator cuff repairs. The use of trans-osseous sutures and suture anchors has been reported with good results, with no significant differences if the repair remains intact or recurrent tears occur. The role of traditional suture anchors has been assessed clinically and biomechanically, however there have been reports of pull out, anchor material found within joint and concerns with the amount of bone loss. The all suture anchor (ASA) is proposed to address these concerns with encouraging cadaveric, biomechanical results to date.

The two senior authors performed 31 arthroscopic rotator cuff repairs using ASA with a double row technique at the two study centres'. The patients were reviewed in clinic at one month, three months, 6 months and a year postoperatively. The patients were assessed with the Constant score and clinical range of motion of the shoulder in abduction, forward flexion, external rotation and internal rotation. The surgical technique and rehabilitation was the same for both surgeons.

At a mean follow up of 10.2 months (range 3-12 months) the mean constant score was 77.1 (range 35-90), with a mean abduction of 139.6° (range 30-180°), external rotation of 43.4° (range 20-80°), and internal rotation to lumbar vertebrae 3-4 (range buttock to lumbar vertebra 1). There has been one re-rupture to date.

The functional and clinical results in our study are comparable to those reported in literature using standard anchors.