Objective: To investigate the method and clinical effects of arthroscopic rotator cuff repair with footprint ending shift for massive rotator cuff tear.
Methods: From March 2015 to April 2019, 27 patients with massive rotator cuff tear underwent arthroscopic repair, including 12 males and 15 females, ranging in age from 37 to 74 years old, with an average age of (56.1±8.9) years. According to the tension of rotator cuff, 5 patients were treated with double row suture bridge technique, and 22 patients were treated with single row technique, among which 7 patients underwent partial rotator cuff repair. Before and after operation, University of California Los Angeles(UCLA) score, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score and visual analogue scale (VAS) were used to evaluate shoulder joint function.
Results: All the patients were followed up, and the duration ranged from 8 to 40 months, with an average of (18.0±5.9) months. The UCLA score increased from preoperative 8.67±0.78 to final follow-up 30.89±1.07(t=43.56, P<0.001);ASES score increased from preoperative 8.56±0.67 to final follow-up 12.63±0.33(t=15.28, P<0.001);and the VAS decreased from preoperative 6.00(5.00 to 7.00) scores to final follow-up 0.00 (0.00 to 2.00) scores (Z=-4.56, P<0.001). Three patients could not lift the shoulder above the head, without pain. The symptom had no effects on daily work and life, 2 of these patients underwent partial rotator cuff repair.
Conclusion: Arthroscopic rotator cuff repair with footprint ending shift for massive rotator cuff tear has satisfactory results, and single-row can be chosen to completely or partial repair rotator cuff tear for most patients.
Keywords: Arthroscopy; Shoulder joint; Wounds and injuries.