Tension-Reducing Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair Using High-Strength Suture Tape in a Suspension Bridge Configuration

The maturation of arthroscopic techniques has provided patients with rotator cuff tears a minimally invasive treatment option with favorable outcomes; however, the rate of retear remains high. High-strength suture tape is widely used in procedures such as knee ligament reconstruction and ankle ligament repair, where it enhances the tensile strength during joint motion, thereby reducing the risk of ligament rerupture. In this report, we describe an arthroscopic surgical technique for rotator cuff repair using high-strength suture tape for tension relief. The key steps include passing the high-strength suture tape in a "U-shaped" configuration through the tendon stump, reducing the tendon by securing it with a lateral-row anchor, and then, under nearly "zero tension," using the suture tails from the medial-row anchors to approximate the remaining tendon stump. This technique, by employing high-strength suture tape to reduce the tendon and share the tension load, significantly minimizes the cutting effect of the medial-row anchors on the tendon, thereby lowering the risk of tendon retear and promoting tissue healing.