Extract
Amassive, retracted tear of the rotator cuff poses a unique challenge to
the orthopaedic surgeon. All attempts must be made to mobilize the tendons
such that they can be repaired to their anatomic insertion sites on the
greater tuberosity in a tension-free manner. However, many retracted tears
cannot be fully mobilized. In this situation, there is substantial controversy
over the most successful repair technique.The advent of double-row repairs has been a substantial advance in rotator
cuff repair. The double-row technique has been shown to be biomechanically
superior to single-row and transosseous suture
techniques1-4.
However, the studies comparing these repair constructs have subjected all
specimens to the same loads, failing to account for differences in tension
between the repair constructs.