Objective To compare the suture bridge (SB) and conventional double-row (DR) suture in the repair of full-thickness rotator cuff tear.Methods From May 2013 through July 2016,48 patients with full-thickness rotator cuff tear were randomly divided into 2 even groups (n =24).SB group was repaired using the SB technique while DR group using conventional DR technique.The 2 groups were compared in terms of operation time,postoperative shoulder function scoring and incidence of re-tear.Results All the patients were followed up for 8 to 24 months (average,15.3 months).In DR group,the visual analogue scale (VAS) scores decreased from preoperative 6.3 ± 2.3 to 1.0 ± 0.4 at the last follow-up,the America Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) scores increased from preoperative 49.3 ± 8.5 to 90.0 ± 2.5 at the last follow-up,and the Constant scores increased from preoperative 58.7 ± 12.5 to 88.1 ± 4.0 at the last follow-up.In SB group,the VAS scores decreased from preoperative 6.0 ± 1.9 to 0.9 ± 0.8 at the last follow-up,the ASES scores increased from preoperative 50.2 ± 6.2 to 89.5 ± 3.4 at the last follow-up,and the Constant scores increased from preoperative 57.3 ± 7.5 to 90.0 ± 3.2 at the last follow-up.All the comparisons showed a significant difference between preoperation and the last follow-up (P ＜ 0.05),but an insignificant difference between the 2 groups (P ＞ 0.05).SB group used significantly less operation time (74.5 ± 19.0 min) than DR group (86.5 ± 21.0 min),and reported significantly lower incidence of re-tear (4.2％) than DR group (25.0％) (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions In arthroscopic repair of full-thickness rotator cuff tear,SB technique shows few therapeutic advantages over conventional DR technique,but the former needs less operation time and leads to lower incidence of re-tear.