Healing rates after rotator cuff repair have been reported as suboptimal, although clinical success remains high. Double row arthroscopic rotator cuff repair has been shown to have a higher healing rate than single row repair when evaluated by MRI, although still imperfect rates of healing still exist when treating large and massive tears.  The suture bridge method of fixation has superior mechanics when studied in the lab; this study will evaluate the clinical results and MRI healing rates of this technique.  The clinical benefit of dual row fixation has yet to be elucidated.

The goal of this study is to evaluate the integrity of rotator cuff repair after utilizing suture bridge fixation. It is our hypothesis that we will have a higher percentage of intact repairs when compared to historical and reported results.

A total of 40 consecutive patients with suture bridge repairs have been identified.  In order to have had a bridge repair, the tear must have been large or massive; otherwise this technique would not have been applied.  The patients will be examined at minimum 1 year post operative. MRI will be read by a single musculoskeletal radiologist.  MRI will be classified as intact or torn.

Scores and MRI’s will be evaluated and linked with clinical outcome. 


As of April 11, 2008, 16 patients who had Suture Bridge repairs have been identified, examined and had MRI scans 1 year post operative. Data on shoulder function and patient health status questionnaires have been received from all 16 participants. We are in the process of recording data from the questionnaires on excel spreadsheets.

We expect that all 40 consecutive patients will be examined by May 2008. We estimate conclusion of data recording, analysis and interpretation of results by the summer of 2008. We also plan to present the preliminary findings and methodology of the study at the Annual Conference of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS) and American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine (AOSSM).