{Reference Type}: Journal Article
{Title}: Arthroscopic management of isolated partial-thickness rotator cuff tears.
{Author}: Longo UG;Marino M;Lalli A;Bandini B;Giannarelli D;Ruiz Ibán MÁ;
{Journal}: Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc
{Volume}: 0
{Issue}: 0
{Year}: 2024 Jun 27
{Factor}: 4.114
{DOI}: 10.1002/ksa.12326
{Abstract}: <B>OBJECTIVE: </B>The aim of the present study is to provide a comprehensive review on the surgical outcomes following arthroscopic treatments of partial-thickness rotator cuff tears (PT-RCTs) and to compare the postoperative American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score following in situ transtendon repair and tear completion, followed by repair.<BR><B>METHODS: </B>Medline, EMBASE, Scopus, CINAHL and CENTRAL bibliographic databases were searched. Papers including patients with PT-RCTs of any grade who underwent treatment using debridement, in situ transtendon repair, tear completion and repair or bioinductive collagen implants were reviewed. Primary PT-RCTs were the sole indication for surgery. Primary postoperative outcomes assessed included the ASES score, the Absolute Constant-Murley score, the Simple Shoulder Test, the Visual Analogue Scale, the University of California-Los Angeles Shoulder Scale, the Western Ontario Rotator Cuff Score, range of motion, complications and revisions. A meta-analysis of comparative studies compared the postoperative ASES score between patients treated with in situ transtendon repair versus tear completion repair.<BR><B>RESULTS: </B>Twenty-eight studies were included. The ASES score was reported by four comparative studies with contrasting results. The heterogeneity was high (I2 = 86%), and effect sizes ranged from -0.49 in favour of the tear completion and repair technique to an effect size of +1.07 favouring in situ transtendon repair. The overall effect size of 0.02 suggests an equivalence between the two techniques in terms of the ASES score. Two studies with a total sample size of 111 patients reported on debridement, and four studies with a total sample size of 155 patients reported on bioinductive collagen implants.<BR><B>CONCLUSIONS: </B>Debridement alone is suitable for Ellman grades I-II PT-RCTs. In situ transtendon and tear completion repair techniques yield similar postoperative outcomes. Bioinductive collagen implants hold promise but lack long-term efficacy data. High-quality comparative studies are needed to determine the best treatment for PT-RCTs.<BR><B>METHODS: </B>Level IV.