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Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery - British Volume, Vol 87-B, Issue 6, 819-823.
doi: 10.1302/0301-620X.87B6.15638  
Copyright © 2005 by British Editorial Society of Bone and Joint Surgery
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The effect of suture materials and techniques on the outcome of repair of the rotator cuff

A PROSPECTIVE, RANDOMISED STUDY

T. D. Boehm, MD, Orthopaedic Surgeon1; A. Werner, MD, PhD, Orthopaedic Surgeon2; S. Radtke, Surgical House Officer3; T. Mueller, MD, Orthopaedic Surgeon4; S. Kirschner, MD, Orthopaedic Surgeon1; and F. Gohlke, MD, PhD, Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery1

1 Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Koenig-Ludwig-Haus, University of Wuerzburg, Brettreichstrasse 11, D-97074 Wuerzburg, Germany.
2 Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Duesseldorf, Moorenstrasse 5, D-40225 Duesseldorf, Germany.
3 Department of Surgery, University of Wuerzburg, Josef Schneider Strasse 2, D-97080 Wuerzburg, Germany.
4 Klinik Vincentinum, Franziskanergasse 12, D-85152 Augsburg, Germany.

Correspondence should be sent to Professor F. Gohlke; e-mail: f-gohlke.klh{at}mail.uni-wuerzburg.de

In a prospective, randomised study on the repair of tears of the rotator cuff we compared the clinical results of two suture techniques for which different suture materials were used.

We prospectively randomised 100 patients with tears of the rotator cuff into two groups. Group 1 had transosseous repair with No. 3 Ethibond using modified Mason-Allen sutures and group 2 had transosseous repair with 1.0 mm polydioxanone cord using modified Kessler sutures. After 24 to 30 months the patients were evaluated clinically using the Constant score and by ultrasonography.

Of the 100 patients, 92 completed the study. No significant statistical difference was seen between the two groups: Constant score, 91% vs 92%; rate of further tear, 18% vs 22%; and revision, 4% vs 4%. In cases of further tear the outcome in group 2 did not differ from that for the intact repairs (91% vs 91%), but in group 1 it was significantly worse (94% vs 77%, p = 0.005).

Overall, seven patients had complications which required revision surgery, in four for pain (two in each group) and in three for infection (two in group 1 and one in group 2).




eLetters:

Read all eLetters

Reaching more definite conclusions on the optimum method of repair of the rotator cuff
Sunil K Pai
J Bone Joint Surg Br Online, 12 Jul 2005 [Full text]
Response to Mr Pai from Professor Gohlke and Dr Boehm
Frank E Gohlke, et al.
J Bone Joint Surg Br Online, 16 Aug 2005 [Full text]

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Hip, Knee, Trauma, Upper limb, Foot & Ankle, Paediatrics, Oncology, Spine, Arthroplasty, General