[Short-term outcomes of modified load-sharing rip-stop repair compared with suture-bridge repair for large rotator...

Objective: To examine the short-term outcomes of modified load-sharing rip-stop repair (mLSRS) and suture-bridge repair (SB) for large rotator cuff tear. Methods: The clinical data of patients who underwent shoulder arthroscopy for large rotator cuff repair at Department of Orthopedic, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences Wang Jing Hospital from January 2017 to December 2018 were collected. Totally 111 patients (39 in mLSRS group and 72 in SB group) were included in the study. There were 45 males and 66 females, aged (58.0±6.9)years (range: 40 to 72 years).A total of 39 pairs of patients were successfully matched by propensity score matching. The pain of shoulder joint was assessed by visual analogy score (VAS) , the shoulder function was assessed by Constant-Murley score, the abduction strength of bilateral shoulder joint was assessed by 90˚ force assessment method of upper limb on the plane of scapula, and the healing of rotator cuff on the operative side was assessed by sugaya ultrasonic classification standard. The difference of short-term outcome between the two groups were compared using t test, χ(2) test, Mann-Whitney U test, repeated measures design anova and multivariate analysis of variance. Results: At the 4th week after surgery, the VAS of mLSRS group was significantly lower than SB group(1 (2) vs. 2 (2) , F=5.32, P=0.02). One year after surgery, Constant-Murley score of two groups were significantly higher than those before surgery, but there was no significant difference between two groups(89.1±5.7 vs. 87.6±7.3, t=1.00, P=0.32). Abductor strength of affected limbs were lower than that of the opposite side, but there were no statistically significant differences between two groups(4.28±1.61 vs. 4.54±1.64, t=-0.70, P=0.49). According to the Sugaya classification, 32 cases in mLSRS group were healed while 7 cases were not healed,30 cases in SB group were healed while 9 cases were not healed(χ(2)=0.32, P=0.58). Conclusion: The use of mLSRS fixation construct on large rotator cuff tear can reduce pain and the short-term outcome is reliable.