Arthroscopic repair of the medium-size rotator cuff tear with the novel technique of the point union bridge: a minimum 2-year follow-up cohort study

Achieving secure fixation and preventing retear have been recognized as fundamental in arthroscopic repair of rotator cuff tears. Moreover, reducing internal implantation can lower medical expenses and minimize the operation time, which is essential for the surgical safety and postoperative rehabilitation of the patients. We have recently proposed the point union bridge (PUB) suture configuration as a novel method for not only providing equivalent fixation but also decreasing the operation time and medical expenses. However, no comparative clinical studies have been performed. From March 2014 to September 2016, a total of 88 patients with diagnoses of medium-size rotator cuff tears underwent arthroscopic repair with a randomly assigned technique—either the PUB technique (n = 42) or the double-row suture bridge (DRSB) technique (n = 46). All patients underwent a minimal 2-year follow-up. We used the Constant-Murley score (CMS), American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score, active and passive range of motion, and visual pain-simulation score (visual analog scale [VAS] score) to assess the functional outcomes. In addition, we recorded the arthroscopic operation time, medical costs, and postoperative complications. All patients received magnetic resonance imaging at the 6-month and 2-year postoperative evaluations to assess structural integrity and tendon healing. At the 2-year follow-up, all scoring parameters evaluated (CMS, ASES score, and VAS score), as well as active and passive range of motion, improved significantly in both groups as compared with preoperative assessments. The PUB technique significantly decreased the operation time (55.9 ± 14.1 minutes vs. 72.2 ± 14.2 minutes for PUB vs. DRSB, P < .001) and medical expenses ($2608.0 ± $391.1 vs. $4056.9 ± $350.9 for PUB vs. DRSB, P < .001). However, no significant differences between the 2 techniques were found in any functional assessments of the shoulder (CMS, ASES score, and VAS score), repair integrity, or the retear rate at the 2-year follow-up. Arthroscopic repair of the medium-size rotator cuff tear with either the PUB or DRSB technique could yield both satisfactory improvements in the shoulder function of patients and equivalent tendon integrity. With less consumption of internal implants, the PUB technique significantly reduced the operation time and decreased medical expenses.