Blended Suture-bridge Technique for Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair.

Abstract

Techniques in rotator cuff repair are constantly evolving, with the main goal of a biologic, stable, and tension-free construct. Significant controversy exists between various methods, and there is no gold standard surgical protocol. We demonstrate an alternative arthroscopic rotator cuff repair technique with 2 key components. First, we performed a transosseous equivalent, suture bridge technique with a combination of triple-loaded medial anchors and knotless lateral anchors. Second, we incorporated 2-strand and 3-strand suture shuttling through the torn rotator cuff and selective medial knot-tying. A total of 6 passes through the tendon are made, comprising 1-2-3-3-2-1 strands each pass. This minimizes the number of passes through the tendon and the overall number of medial knots. Our technique retains the known biomechanical advantages akin to a double-row repair, including less gap formation and wider footprint coverage. In addition, using fewer medial knots with efficient suture passing may result to decreased cuff strangulation and favorable biologic environment for tendon healing. We theorize that this technique may yield lower retear rates while maintaining immediate stability, translating to improved clinical results.