J Korean Orthop Assoc.  2008 Feb;43(1):93-100. 10.4055/jkoa.2008.43.1.93.

All Arthroscopic Repairs with Massive Cuff Stitch in Medium-sized Full Thickness Rotator Cuff Tears

• Ko SH
• Cho SD
• Jung KH
• Cha JR
• Youm YS
• Jung CY
• Seo DK
• Jeon HM
• Lee CC

• KMID: 2106422
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4055/jkoa.2008.43.1.93

Abstract

PURPOSE: We wanted to evaluate the usefulness of arthroscopic repair using the modified Mason-Allen Massive Cuff Stitch for medium sized full thickness rotator cuff tear. We verified the clinical results and evaluated the repair integrity after short term follow up.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Twenty-three cases of arthroscopically repaired full thickness tear of the rotator cuff of an estimated medium size were evaluated between December 2004 to May 2005. The average patient age was 54 years old (range: 43-69 years old), and the mean follow-up was 14 months (range: 12-17 months). We analyzed the results by paired t-test. The follow up MRIs were checked in 11 cases.
RESULTS
The VAS pain score was improved from a preoperative average of 7.0 to a postoperative average of 0.9, the ADL was improved from 11.1 to 26.0 and the UCLA score was improved from 13.6 to 32.5 (all p<0.05). 91.3% showed an excellent or good result at the final follow-up. The satisfied rate was 95.7% (22 cases). There was re-rupture of the repaired rotator cuff in one out of 11 cases (9.1%).
CONCLUSION
Arthroscopic repairs using a modified Mason-Allen Massive Cuff Stitch for full thickness rotator cuff tear of an estimated medium size showed good clinical outcomes.

Keyword

Shoulder; Medium sized full thickness rotator cuff tear; Arthroscopy; Massive Cuff Stitch

MeSH Terms

Activities of Daily Living
Arthroscopy
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Rotator Cuff
Shoulder

Figure

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  Fig. 1 The arthroscopic photographs showing the medium sized L shaped rotator cuff tear as viewed from the posterolateral portal. Side-to-side suture (arrow head) first repaired tendon to tendon lesion by margin convergence, and another horizontal mattress loop (arrow) was made at 10 mm medial to the edge of the cuff tendon.

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  Fig. 2 The vertical single loop (arrow) from the anchors is made medial to the previous horizontal loop (arrow head).

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  Fig. 3 Two sets of arthroscopic modified Mason-Allen stitch from one anchor is made, which is the Massive Cuff Stitch (MCS). The arthroscopic photographs showed the water-tight repaired rotator cuff. Two arrows indicate the arthroscopic modified Mason-Allen stitch, which looks the same as Fig. 2. Essentially broken into 2 separate loops, the horizontal mattress loop increases the strength of repair of a simple vertical loop. The modified Mason-Allen stitch is very difficult to do arthroscopically. Simple arthroscopic modification like separation of the loop and combined incorporation are the same as the modified Mason-Allen stitch.

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  Fig. 4 Schematic of the arthroscopic repair using a modified Mason-Allen Massive Cuff Stitch for medium sized full thickness rotator cuff tear.

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