Vol.:(0123456789) 1 3 Archives of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery https://doi.org/10.1007/s00402-020-03387-6 ARTHROSCOPY AND SPORTS MEDICINE Arthroscopic repair of partial‑thickness articular surface rotator cuf tears: single‑row transtendon technique versus double‑row suture bridge (transosseous equivalent) fxation: results from a prospective randomized study Manuel Zafra 1  · Pilar Uceda 1,4  · Francisco Muñoz‑Luna 2  · Rafael C. Muñoz‑López 1  · Pilar Font 3 Received: 17 July 2019 © Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2020 Abstract Background The purpose of this prospective study was to compare the clinical and structural fndings following the arthro- scopic repair of partial-thickness (exceeding 50%) articular-sided rotator cuf tears using either a single-row or a double-row suture bridge fxation. Materials and methods Fifty patients were included in this study. The patients were randomly placed into two groups: 25 underwent the single-row (Group I) and 25 a double-row suture bridge fxation (Group II). The clinical outcomes were assessed using ASES and Constant shoulder scores, both preoperatively and at the end of follow-up. The pain level was evalu- ated using the visual analogue scale (VAS), preoperatively, at 6 months and at the end of follow-up. All patients underwent preoperative MRI to identify the rotator cuf tear, and postoperatively at 12 months to evaluate tendon integrity. Results The average follow-up was 32.5 months. The mean ASES scores increased from 35.9 to 96.7 in Group I and from 35.3 to 93.4 in Group II; the mean Constant shoulder scores increased from 55.6 to 97.8 in Group I and from 57.5 to 97.3 in Group II. There were no signifcant diferences between the two groups. The average preoperative pain level decreased from 7.4 to 3 at 6 months and to 0.4 at the end of the Group I; and from 7.6 to 3 at 6 months and 0.8 in Group II. There was no signifcant diference between the two groups. At 12 months, the MRI assessments showed two retears in Group I (8%) and one retear in Group II (4%). Conclusion Arthroscopic repair of partial-thickness articular rotator cuf tears that exceed 50% of tendon thickness with a single-row transtendon repair or double-row suture bridge provides functional improvement and pain relief regardless of the repair technique used. There were no diferences in clinical results between both techniques. Level of evidence Level II; prospective comparative study. Keywords Partial rotator cuf tears · Single row · Double row · Arthroscopic magnetic resonance imaging * Pilar Uceda ucedasan@gmail.com Manuel Zafra manuelmazago@gmail.com Francisco Muñoz-Luna paco1962@gmail.com Rafael C. Muñoz-López rcml@hotmail.com Pilar Font fougp@hotmail.com 1 Hospital Quirón, Instituto de Traumatología, Avda. del Aeropuerto, 14005 Córdoba, Spain 2 Reina Sofía University Hospital, Avda. Menéndez Pidal, 14004 Córdoba, Spain 3 IMIBIC, Universidad de Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain 4 Isla Hierro St Number 14, 14011 Córdoba, Spain