The purpose of this study was to compare the massive cuff stitch (MCS) with the simple stitch in terms of integrity at 2 years after surgery when used to repair small-sized to medium-sized full-thickness rotator cuff tears.

Seventy-one patients underwent arthroscopic repair of full-thickness rotator cuff tears between December 2004 and June 2006. The tear sizes ranged from 0.5 to 1.5 cm. The mean patient age was 53 years (range, 40 to 69 years), and the mean follow-up time was 33 months (range, 24 to 41 months). Group I (n = 35) underwent MCS repair, and group II (n = 36) underwent simple stitch repair. Results were analyzed by use of the Wilcoxon signed rank test and the Mann-Whitney test. Follow-up ultrasound was performed 24 to 41 months after repair.

All patients showed improvements in the visual analog scale for pain, activities of daily living, and University of California, Los Angeles scores (P < .05), but there were no significant differences in scores between groups (P > .05). The satisfaction rating was similar for group I (4.7) and group II (4.3) (P > .05). The failure (retear) rate was significantly lower in group I (14.3%) than in group II (27.8%) (P < .05).

The clinical outcomes between the MCS and simple stitch were not significantly different, but the MCS was superior to the simple stitch in maintaining repair integrity on ultrasound evaluation after arthroscopic repair of small-sized to medium-sized full-thickness rotator cuff tears.

Level III, prospective therapeutic comparative study.

Our purpose was to compare the clinical results and failure rates of arthroscopic rotator cuff repair by use of a modified mattress locking stitch (MMLS) repair versus a simple stitch repair.

Between December 2004 and January 2006, 78 cases of arthroscopically repaired full-thickness rotator cuff tears were evaluated prospectively. All tears were between 1.5 and 3 cm in size. The mean age of the patients was 53.4 years (range, 39 to 68 years), and the mean follow-up duration was 31.1 months (range, 24 to 37 months). Thirty-nine individuals underwent arthroscopic repair by use of an MMLS (group I). Thirty-nine individuals underwent arthroscopic repair by use of a simple stitch (group II). Postoperative visual analog scale scores for pain, scores for activities of daily living, and University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) scores were obtained at a mean of 12 months (range, 6 to 36 months). We compared the results statistically by Mann-Whitney U test. In both groups magnetic resonance imaging scans were obtained at 6 to 36 months after repair.

Between groups, the visual analog scale scores for pain, scores for activities of daily living, and University of California, Los Angeles scores were not significantly different (P > .05 for all). Of the patients, 92.3% in group I and 89.7% in group II showed excellent or good results at the final follow-up (P > .05). The satisfaction rate was 94.9% (37 cases) in group I and 89.7% (34 cases) in group II (P < .05). Radiographic failure was seen in 6 of 36 cases in group I (16.7%) and 9 of 30 cases in group II (27.4%) (P < .05).

Arthroscopic repair of medium-sized (1.5- to 3-cm) full-thickness rotator cuff tears by use of an MMLS improves patient satisfaction rates and radiographic repair integrity in comparison to simple stitch repair.

Level II, lesser-quality randomized controlled trial.