• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.237-240
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• 2016

Retear patterns after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair are classified into two patterns according to retear location. Type 1 is when the retear pattern occurs directly on the tendon at the bone repair site using the suture anchor repair method. Type 2 is when the retear pattern occurs at the musculocutaneous junction with a healed footprint in patients who undergo the suture bridge method. Here, the authors report another retear pattern, which was identified as a type 2 retear on magnetic resonance imaging in patients who had undergone arthroscopic rotator cuff repair by the suture-bridge technique. This pattern was different from the type 2 retear and occurred at the portion of the cuff away from the healed rotator cuff under the view of the arthroscope.

• The Academic Congress of Korean Shoulder and Elbow Society
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• 2008.03a
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• pp.147-152
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• 2008

• The Academic Congress of Korean Shoulder and Elbow Society
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• 2009.03a
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• pp.162-162
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• 2009

After preparation of the bone bed, two doubly loaded suture anchors with suture eyelets are inserted at the articular margin of the greater tuberosity. A retrograde suture-passing instrument penetrates the rotator cuff to retrieve the sutures through the modiWed Neviaser or subclavian portal. An ipsilateral pair of suture eyelets in the suture anchor is passed through the margins of the rotator cuff tear. The blue suture of the second and third pair is pulled out of the lateral cannula, and the threaded blue suture of the third pair in the needle is passed through the blue suture of the second pair. After retrieving the blue suture of the firrst pair through the anterior portal, it is pulled out to pass the blue suture of the third pair through the eyelet of the anteromedial anchor. The blue suture is linked between two anchors. The medial row of suture bridge is repaired with a sliding knot, and the sutures are not cut. Once the rotator cuff repair using the suture-bridge technique has been performed, the two blue strands in the anterior portal are tied. We describe our technique that possesses the advantages of both the double-pulley and suturebridge techniques, which improves the pressurized contact area and maximizes compression along the medial row.

• The Academic Congress of Korean Shoulder and Elbow Society
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• 2009.03a
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• pp.210-210
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• 2009

For a bursal-side retracted laminated rotator cuff tear, simple repair of the retracted bursal-side rotator cuff might be insufficient because the repaired tendon could remain as an intratendinous tear of the rotator cuff. We present a repair method for intratendinous rotator cuff tears using the suture-bridge technique. We believe that this method helps to preserve the remnant rotator cuff tendon without tissue damage and restores the normal rotator cuff footprint in bursal-side delaminated rotator cuff tears.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.181-187
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• 2010

Purpose: To determine clinical results for arthroscopic repair of a full-thickness rotator cuff tear using a suture bridge technique. Materials and Methods: Between November, 2007 and October, 2008, we evaluated 90 cases of arthroscopic middle, large rotator tear cuff repair. The mean follow-up period was 15 months (range, 12-23 months). Forty-three cases had medium-sized tears; 47 cases had large-sized tears. At the preoperative stage and again at last follow-up, functional results were assessed by the KSS, ASES, UCLA and the PVAS (Pain visual analogue score). Results: Pain score improved from 2.56 preoperatively to 0.96 at final follow-up; movement scores improved from 6.94 to 1.70. At. final follow-up, the average UCLA score improved from 17.08 to 31.17 with 31 excellent (34%), 49 good (54%) and 10 poor results (12%). The final UCLA score was 31.47 in the group less than 60 years of age and 30.69 in the group over 61 years of age (p=0.344). The UCLA score was 31.23 in those with medium-sized tears and 31.11 in those with large-sized tears (p=0.924). The UCLA score was 31.10 in non-trauma patients and 31.23 in trauma patients (p=0.929). Conclusion: Arthroscopic repair of a full-thickness rotator cuff tear using a suture bridge technique can produce excellent clinical results. These outcomes are not affected by age or trauma history.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.82-89
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• 2008

Ideal rotator cuff repair is to maintain high fixation strength and minimize gap formation for optimizing the environment of biologic healing of tendon to bone. Among the current repair techniques, the suture bridge technique is superior to single- or double-row repair in ultimate load to failure, gap formation, restoring anatomical footprint and achieving pressurized contact area. The suture bridge technique also minimizes gap formation and has rotational and torsional resistances allowing early rehabilitation. However, despite superior biomechanical characteristics of the suture bridge technique, there is no evidence that these mechanical advantages result in better clinical outcomes. Furthermore, there is no difference in failure rates between the double-row repair and suture bridge techniques. An appropriate repair technique should be determined based on tear size and pattern and tendon quality.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.197-205
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• 2015

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the postoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) results of minimal-tying (one medial-row tie among 4 medial-row sutures) on the medial-row in double-row suture-bridge configuration ($2{\times}2$ anchor with $4{\times}4$ suture stands). Methods: From 2011 March to 2012 July, 79 patients underwent arthroscopic rotator cuff repair using $2{\times}2$ anchor double-row configuration. The mean age was 61.3 years (range, 31-81 years). Two double-loaded suture anchors were used for medial-row. Four medial-row stitches were made with only one medial-row knot-tying (the most anterior suture). Lateral-row was secured using the conventional suture-bridge anchor technique; all 4 strands were used for each anchor. Repair integrity was evaluated with MRI at mean 6.2 months postoperatively. Retear and the pattern of retear, change of fatty infiltration, and muscle atrophy of supraspinatus were evaluated using pre- and postoperative MRI. Results: Repaired tendon integrity was 38 for type I, 30 for type II, 6 for type III, 4 for type IV, and 1 for type V, according to Sugaya classification. Considering type IV/V as retear, the rate was 6.3% (5 out of 79 patients). Medial cuff failure was observed in 4 patients. Fatty atrophy of supraspinatus was significantly improved postoperatively according to Goutallier grading (p=0.01). The level of muscle atrophy of supraspinatus was not changed significantly after surgery. Conclusions: Minimal tying technique with suture configuration of four-by-four strand double-row suture-bridge yielded a lower retear rate (6.3%) in medium to large rotator cuff tears.

• Journal of the Korean Arthroscopy Society
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.179-182
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• 2009

Purpose: Point fixation at the margin of the glenoid is a limitation of conventional arthroscopic stabilization using suture anchors, and does not afford sufficient footprint healing, especially in glenoid bone deficiency. So, we introduce an arthroscopic suture bridge transosseous-equivalent technique for bony Bankart lesions to avoid the technical disadvantage of point contact with anchor fixation and to improve mechanical stability through cross compression of the labrum. Surgical approach: The technique was adapted from the transosseous-equivalent rotator cuff repair technique using suture bridges, which improved the pressurized contact area and mean pressure between the tendon and footprint. After preparation of the glenoid bed by removal, reshaping, or mobilization of the bony lesion, two anchors (3.0 mm Biofastak, $Arthrex^{(R)}$, Naples, FL) were inserted into the superior and inferior portion of the bony Bankart lesion. Using a suture hook, medial mattress sutures were applied around the capsulolabral portion of the IGHL complex to obtain sufficient depth of glenoid coverage. A 3.5 mm pushloc anchor ($Arthrex^{(R)}$, Naples, FL) hole was made in the articular edge of the anterior glenoid rim. distal, suture bridge was applied, and proximal was inserted to mobilize the labrum in the proximal direction. This avoided the technical disadvantage of point contact with anchor fixation and decreased the level of gap formation through cross-compression of the labrum.

• The Academic Congress of Korean Shoulder and Elbow Society
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• 2009.03a
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• pp.81-81
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• 2009

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.51-58
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• 2016

The arthroscopic rotator cuff repair is now considered a mainstream technique with highly satisfactory clinical results. However, concerns remain regarding healing failures for large and massive tears and high revision rate. In recent decades, various repair strategies and construct configurations have been developed for rotator cuff repair with the understanding that many factors contribute to the structural integrity of the repaired construct. The focus of biomechanical test in arthroscopic repair has been on increasing fixation strength and restoration of the footprint contact characteristics to provide early rehabilitation and improve healing. These include repaired rotator cuff tendon-footprint motion, increased tendon-footprint contact area and pressure, and tissue quality of tendon and bone. Recent studies have shown that a transosseous tunnel technique provides improved contact area and pressure between rotator cuff tendon and insertion footprint, and the technique of using double rows of suture anchors to recreate the native footprint attachment has been recently described. The transosseous equivalent suture bridge technique has the highest contact pressure and fixation force. In this review, the biomechanical tests about repair techniques of rotator cuff tear will be reviewed and discussed.