Abstract

As rotator cuff procedures have moved from open to arthroscopic, more attention has been paid to the use of anchors due to cost concerns and utilization of the real estate of the greater tuberosity footprint. A retrospective case series was performed to analyze anchor utilization during arthroscopic rotator cuff repair after triple-loaded anchors were available in comparison to the use of double-loaded anchors. One consecutive group of 69 patients had RCR with double-loaded anchors and a second consecutive group of 77 patients had RCR after triple-loaded anchors were available. For RC tear size greater than 2.5 cm² the use of triple-loaded anchors resulted in a decreased use of nearly 1 anchor per repair. Level of evidence IV.

Keywords

rotator cuff, arthroscopy, triple-loaded, medial-lateral, weight polyethelene, fixation methods, repair costs, Cleveland clinic, reduction, surgeon’s implant choice, triple-load, polyethelene, outpatient basis, ultrasound assessment, tear size, two-tailed P value