Rotator cuff: biology and current arthroscopic techniques

Abstract

The present article summarizes current trends in arthroscopic rotator cuff repairs focusing on the used repair technique, potential influencing factors on the results, and long-term outcome after reconstruction of the rotator cuff. Moreover, different treatment options for the treatment for irreparable rotator cuff ruptures were described, and the results of additional augmentation of the repairs with platelet-rich plasma were critically analyzed. Based on the current literature, double-row repairs did not achieve superior clinical results compared to single-row repairs neither in the clinical results nor in the re-rupture rate. Multiple factors such as age, fatty infiltration, and initial rupture size might influence the results. If the rupture is not repairable, various options were described including cuff debridement, partial repair, tuberoplasty, or tendon transfers. The additional augmentation with platelet-rich plasma did not reveal any significant differences in the healing rate compared to conventional rotator cuff repairs.

Level of evidence: IV.