Comparative Study of the Functional and Clinical Outcomes of Two Different Rotator Cuff Repair Techniques: Suture Anchor versus Transosseous Sharc-FT

Aim: The aim of the present study was to compare the functional and clinical outcomes of suture anchor and transosseous Sharc-FT fixation options in mini-open repair of rotator cuff tears. Material and Methods: Between January 2010 and July 2016, 60 patients were operated on in the Orthopedics and Traumatology Clinics of Duzce University Hospital and Duzce State Hospital. Thirty patients in whom repair was performed with suture anchor (Group 1) and 30 patients in whom repair was performed with Transosseous Sharc-FT® (Group 2) were compared. Preoperative and postoperative shoulder ranges of motion, the visual analog scale scores, constant shoulder scores, Oxford shoulder scores, and Q-DASH shoulder scores were evaluated in Group 1 and Group 2 patients. Results: A total of 62% of the participants were male and 38% were female. Gender distribution was homogeneous in both groups (P=0.426). The mean age of the subjects was 57.35 ± 8.69 (41-78) years. No significant difference was noted between the groups in terms of mean age (P=0.232). On the basis of the post-hoc test results, the postoperative constant score was significantly higher in Group 2 compared with that in Group 1 (P<0.001). Conclusion: Rotator cuff repair using transosseous Sharc-FT fixation material provides tighter stability compared with suture anchor and has superior functional, radiological, and pain scores. Furthermore, early rehabilitation is another advantage of using Transosseous Sharc-FT in patients who prefer undergoing rotator cuff repair over other fixation options.