RESUMEN
PURPOSE: We evaluated the functional outcomes after arthroscopic repair of a massive tear between the tendon to tendon (TT) repair technique and the tendon to tendon and bone to tendon (TTBT) repair technique. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From March, 2002 to January, 2007, 43 cases of arthroscopic massive rotator cuff repair were evaluated. 12 were repaired by TT repair and 31 were repaired by TTBT repair. At 1year follow-up, the functional results were assessed by the KSS, ASES, UCLA and Constant scoring system and the P-VAS (Pain visual analogue score). Post-operative integrity was evaluated by an ultrasound examination 6 months after the operation. RESULTS: In TTBT repair group, the improvement of the KSS, ASES, UCLA and Constant scores were 15.4 (50.5 to 65.9), 28 (55.6 to 83.6), 9.6 (21.1 to 30.7) and 11 (40.7 to 51.7), respectively. The pain improvement was 2.7 (VAS, 3.8 to 1.1) and the retear rate was 62%. In the TT repair group, the functional improvements were 29.2 (33.7 to 62.9), 42.7 (38.6 to 81.3), 13.4 (16.4 to 29.8) and 19.7 (29.6 to 49.3), respectively. The pain improvement was 4.2 (VAS, 5.5 to 1.3) and the retear rate was 75%. CONCLUSION: Arthroscopic repair of a massive tear could afford good functional results and pain relief in spite of a high retear rate. The TT repair technique was comparable to the TTBT repair technique.