Rotator Cuff Repair Without Bony Trough

Chun, Jae Myeung; Choe, Jean; Kim, Key Yong

Abstract

Surgical repair has been widely accepted for full thickness tear of the rotator cuff. In traditional method, hony trough on the greater tuberosity of the humerus has heen used for tendon to hone suture. Recently, there have been some suggestions that hony trough would not he essential for repairing the rotator cuff. Purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical result of rotator cuff repair without bony trough. We evaIuated the clinical results of 23 operative repairs of the full-thickness tear of the rotator cuff, using modified ASES scoring system, at an average of l4 months postoperatively. For these cases, all the tendon to hone sutures were done without makin bony trough. There were 3 cases of small tear. 14 case of medium tear, 1 case of large tear and 5 cases of massive tear. Mini-open repairs with arthroscopic acromioplaslies were used for 9 cases with small or medium sized tear. Open acromioplasties and repairs were done for 14 cases. Nine cases were rated excellent (39%), and twelve cases showed good results (52%). Two cases showed fair results (9%). Averagc increase of score was 40 (ranee, 18 to 78). There were no complications or deteriorations of function. No patient needed additional surgery. Repair without hony trough is more simple and easier than the traditional method making bony trough. There would he possibility of less tension to the tendons and preserving more natural course of tendons. The authors believe that this method provides larger contact surface between the tendon and hone. The repairing method without hony trough is considered to he a safe and efficient method for the full thickness tear of the rotator cuff. This technique can he useful not only for ordinary open repair, but also for mini-open repair.