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Arthroscopic Management of Massive Irreparable Rotator Cuff Tears: Whole Rotator Cable Reconstruction Using Proximal Biceps Tendon Autograft
Published on: June 6, 2025
Arthroscopic Side-to-side Repair for Large U-shaped Full-Thickness Rotator Cuff Tears: Is the Repair Integrity
Jong Dae Kim1, Sung-Min Rhee1, Myung Seo Kim2
1Shoulder and Elbow Clinic, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, College of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Korea.
Purpose:
To evaluate the clinical and structural outcomes of arthroscopic side-to-side repair of large U-shaped full-thickness rotator cuff tears (FTRCTs) by assessing the functional score of the patients and the integrity of the tendon repair using magnetic resonance imaging with a minimum follow-up duration of 2 years.
Methods:
In this case series, 59 consecutive patients who underwent arthroscopic side-to-side repair of large U-shaped FTRCTs, with a minimum follow-up duration of 2 years (range 25 to 72 months), were retrospectively enrolled. The mean patient age was 58.6 years. Patients' functional scores and integrity of the tendon repairs were evaluated.
Results:
The mean visual analog scale score improved from 5.7 ± 2.1 preoperatively to 2.4 ± 1.3 postoperatively (P < .001). The mean range of motion (forward flexion) improved from 152.7° ± 11.4° to 164.5° ± 9.5° (P < .001). The mean Constant-Murley score improved from 57.3 ± 7.2 preoperatively to 77.8 ± 6.9 postoperatively (P < .001). Postoperative magnetic resonance imaging examinations demonstrated cuff integrity with a retear rate of 54.2%. The retear rate of patients who underwent anchor fixation to the medial row (45%) was significantly lower than that of patients who underwent simple side-to-side repair (73.7%) (P = .039). The University of California at Los Angeles shoulder rating and Constant-Murley scores were not significantly different between the healed and retear groups (P = .639 and P = .863, respectively).
Conclusions:
Arthroscopic side-to-side repair of large U-shaped FTRCTs demonstrated satisfactory clinical outcomes. However, the retear rate was higher than expected when simple side-to-side fixation was performed without footprint fixation. Therefore, medial row fixation is recommended if arthroscopic side-to-side repair is performed.
Level Of Evidence:
III, comparative therapeutic trial.
