Knotted Versus Knotless Medial-Row Transosseous-Equivalent Double-Row Rotator Cuff Repairs Have Similar Clinical and...

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic surgery
• Sports medicine
• Biomechanical engineering

Background:

• Rotator cuff tears are common injuries, often requiring surgical repair.
• Suture stabilization techniques, including knotted and knotless methods, are used in rotator cuff repair (RCR).
• Comparing the clinical efficacy of different RCR techniques is crucial for optimizing patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the clinical and functional outcomes of knotted medial-row rotator cuff repair (KT-RCR) versus knotless medial-row rotator cuff repair (KL-RCR).

Main Methods:

• Retrospective chart review of 189 patients undergoing double-row transosseous-equivalent rotator cuff repair.
• Data collected included demographics, preoperative tear size, surgical variables, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) scores, and complications.
• Follow-up was conducted at a minimum of 2 years post-surgery.

Main Results:

• No significant differences were observed in preoperative or postoperative ASES scores between the KT-RCR and KL-RCR groups.
• Cuff failure rates at 2 years (assessed by MRI) were similar: 6.1% for KT-RCR and 5.6% for KL-RCR.
• Complication rates were also comparable between the two groups (8.6% for KT-RCR vs. 11.1% for KL-RCR).

Conclusions:

• Both knotted and knotless medial-row rotator cuff repair techniques yield similar clinical and functional outcomes.
• There are no significant differences in retear rates or complication profiles between KT-RCR and KL-RCR at a minimum 2-year follow-up.
• The choice between knotted and knotless techniques may not significantly impact patient outcomes in double-row rotator cuff repair.