Comparison of suture welding and hand-tied knots in mini-open rotator cuff repair.

Abstract

This study was undertaken to compare the results of mini-open rotator cuff repair with outcomes attained with hand-tied knots and suture welds. A total of 50 consecutive patients treated by a single surgeon with mini-open cuff repair and suture welding were retrospectively evaluated and compared with 55 consecutive patients treated with mini-open cuff repair and hand-tied knots. The groups were similar in terms of age, sex, hand dominance, and preoperative duration of symptoms. All procedures were performed in a hospital outpatient surgery center with patients in a lateral decubitus position under general anesthetic. Glenohumeral arthroscopy and arthroscopic acromioplasty were performed in all cases. Rotator cuff tears were repaired through enlargement of the lateral portal. All patients were evaluated before and after surgery with the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) Shoulder Scale. In all, 47 of 50 patients treated with suture weld were available for evaluation, with an average follow-up of 26 months. Preoperative UCLA scores averaged 12.5, and postoperative scores averaged 29.6. Of 55 patients treated with hand-tied knots, 40 were available, with an average follow-up of 28 months. Preoperative UCLA scores averaged 13.2, and postoperative scores averaged 31.5. No statistical difference in postoperative UCLA scores was noted between the 2 groups (P = .297). Level III, retrospective comparative study.