engleski

Arthroscopic treatment of partial thickness rotator cuff tears

Partial tears of the articular side of the supraspinatus tendon are common lesion. We evaluated patients who underwent arthroscopic repair for partial rotator cuff tears. Material and Methods: Fifty-six patients (27 women, 29 men ; mean age 55 years ; range 32 to 79 years) were treated with arthroscopic repair, with or without acromioplasty, in a period of 43 months. The average follow-up was 22 months. Twenty left shoulders and thirty- six right ones were involved. Twenty-three patients had a history of trauma. The patients were assessed with preoperative and postoperative physical examination and ultrasound. Intraoperativelly partial thickness supraspinatus tears were classified according to Habermeyer. Twenty-four patients underwent acromioplasty in combination with suture anchor technique repair. Seven cases were treated by transosseous suture anchor technique, seventeen by transtendon suture anchor technique, one case with combined transosseus and transtendon suture anchor technique, one case with combined transtendon and single-row suture anchor technique, and the others with single or double-row suture anchor technique. The transosseus technique was used in cases where a conversion from partial to complete tendon rupture was done intraoperatively. The technique we used was determined by rupture type and size and by tendon quality. Results: There were no intraoperative complications. In the early postoperative period one patient had a mild inflammatory reaction around the anterior portal. One patient had a supraspinatus tendon rerupture, and he underwent a second tendon reconstruction procedure. The transtendon fixation was superior to other types of fixation. Conclusion: Partial supraspinatus tendon tears are causing many problems to patients, concerning both functionality and pain. By arthroscopic reconstruction of partial supraspinatus tendon tears we can achieve anatomical fixation and full shoulder function.

partial rotator cuff tears; arthroscopy

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