The Combined Suture Bridge With Mason-Allen Technique Is Superior to the Conventional Suture Bridge Technique for Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair

Purpose: To compare clinical results and retear rates between the combined suture bridge with Mason -Allen (SBMA) technique and the conventional suture bridge (SB) technique in patients with full -thickness rotator cuff tears who underwent arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. Methods: One hundred two patients who underwent arthroscopic rotator cuff repair using the SB technique (n = 50) or SBMA technique (n = 52) for a full -thickness rotator cuff tear and had at least 2 years of followup were retrospectively analyzed. Magnetic resonance imaging was performed before surgery and 2 years after to determine preoperative tear size, Goutallier stage, and presence of retear after surgery. Patients were clinically evaluated using the Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score. Results: The groups did not significantly differ in terms of follow-up period, age, sex, tear size, Goutallier stage, or number of suture anchors. The retear rate was significantly lower in the SBMA group (7.7% vs 28.0%; P < .01). The JOA score was significantly higher at last follow-up than before surgery in both groups (P <.01). The JOA score at last follow-up was significantly higher in the SBMA group (P = .02). Conclusions: Arthroscopic rotator cuff repair using the SBMA technique may provide better clinical and anatomical outcomes than the conventional SB technique. Level of Evidence: Level III, retrospective cohort design; treatment study).