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Updated: Nov 8, 2025
Arthroscopic Management of Massive Irreparable Rotator Cuff Tears: Whole Rotator Cable Reconstruction Using Proximal Biceps Tendon Autograft
Published on: June 6, 2025
Update on all-arthroscopic vs. mini-open rotator cuff repair: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Seaher Sakha1, Safiya Erdogan1, Ajaykumar Shanmugaraj1
1Division of Orthopaedic Surgery, Department of Surgery, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
Purpose:
To provide an updated comparison between modern arthroscopic and mini-open repairs for treating rotator cuff tears.
Methods:
Multiple online databases were searched from 2010 to October 1st, 2020. A meta-analysis was conducted for patient-reported outcomes and complications.
Results:
Eleven studies were included. Majority of patients underwent mini-open repair (MOR) compared to arthroscopic repair (AR) (57.4% vs 42.6%). A meta-analysis found statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) in patient-reported outcomes favouring AR. While retear rates were higher in AR (p = 0.03) analysis of retear rates for arthroscopic double row and mini-open repairs, yielded no differences between groups (p = 0.48).
Conclusion:
Patients undergoing AR for rotator cuff tears had improved post-operative clinical outcomes in some functional outcomes compared to MOR. Modern arthroscopic double row repair result in similar failure rates to open repair techniques.
Level Of Evidence:
Level III, Systematic Review of Level I-III studies.
