Clinical Comparison of Metal and Soft Suture Anchors in Single Row Rotator Cuff Repair

Arthroscopic rotator cuff repair is performed with various commonly used suture anchors. The aim of this study was to compare soft and metal suture anchor types after repair.

This study includes patients who were operated and followed up by a single surgeon in a single center. This study is a retrospective comparative case-control study. The data of 184 patients who underwent arthroscopic rotator cuff repair with the single-row technique using soft anchors and metal anchors between August 2018 and April 2024 were analyzed. Patients were evaluated by Constant-Murley score and clinical range of motion of the shoulder in abduction, external rotation and internal rotation. Preoperative and final follow-up constant scores of all patients were compared. Shoulder joint range of motion was also measured at the last follow-up and compared between the two groups.

The study was performed with 131 patients who met all criteria and 50 metal anchors and 81 soft suture anchors were used. There was a statistically significant difference between the preop and postop constant score values of both participants with metal and soft anchor type (p < 0.001). There was no significant correlation between internal rotation and anchor type (p > 0.05). There was no significant difference between metal and soft anchors in terms of abduction, external rotation, preop constant score and postop constant score (p > 0.05).

Both soft anchor and metal anchor types can be used successfully in repair operations of rotator cuff injuries. No significant difference was found between the treatment results of these two anchor types.