OBJECTIVETo retrospectively study curative effects of three repair methods for rotator cuff tears under arthroscopy, and to explore relationships between different repair methods and cuff lesions.

METHODSFrom January 2009 to Jaunary 2014, a total of 353 patients with rotator cuff tears treated with surgical repair under arthroscopy were included in this study. All the patients were divided into three groups according to time of visitiny hospital and it was divided into three periods. The patients on the first period were treated with single row rivet fixation(115 cases), including 51 males and 64 females, with an average age of (57.46±9.08) years old. The patients on the second period were treated with double row rivet fixation(163 cases), including 76 males and 87 females, with an average age of (56.93±9.92) years old. The patients in the third period were treated with suture bridge fixation(75 cases), including 32 males and 43 females, with an average age of (55.90±9.15) years old. There were 29 patients with huge rotator cuff injuries, who were treated with single-row suture. The shoulders were protected by a brace for 6 weeks after operations were permit ted to perform passive movement within 6 weeks, and then perform active shoulder exercise 6 to 10 weeks after operation. Constant-Murley score, UCLA score and VAS score were recorded preoperatively and postoperatively.

RESULTSAll the patients were followed up, and the duration ranged from 12 to 62 months, with a mean of 30 months. There was no infection or nerve injury. UCLA score was improved from preoperative 10.71±2.45 to postoperative 32.07±3.16; Constant-Murley score was improved from preoperative 43.33±11.55 to postoperative 78.15±12.64; VAS score was improved from preoperative 5.81±1.27 to postoperative 0.52±0.71. There were no statistical differences among three groups in UCLA score, Constant-Murley score and VAS score. Total 337 cases were satisfied with treatment results and 16 cases were not satisfied with the results. Among the 16 cases, 3 cases had huge rotator cuff surgery, and 13 cases had no joint stiffness before operation. The main complaints that resulted in dissatisfaction were weakness of the postoperative muscles and failure to restore the labour capacity(11 cases).

CONCLUSIONSRotator cuff repair under arthroscopy has a reliable clinical effect for the patients with rotator cuff tears. Stable and reliable clinical results can be obtained regardless different repair methods or different rotator cuff tears. The following factors such as no stiffness before operation, too early active exercise and preoperative rotator cuff atrophy may be the risk factors for postoperative dissatisfaction of patients.