Does Complete Footprint Coverage Affect Outcomes After Conventional Arthroscopic Repair of Large-Sized Rotator Cuff Tears?

In large-sized rotator cuff tears, tendon repair with incomplete footprint coverage is performed frequently as a way of tension-free or low-tension repair. To compare clinical outcomes after arthroscopic repair of large-sized rotator cuff tears between patients with complete versus incomplete footprint coverage. Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. Among 297 patients who underwent arthroscopic surgery for a large-sized rotator cuff tear, we selected 58 patients (<50% coverage; mean age, 63.34 ± 6.8 years; 34 men and 24 women) with incomplete footprint coverage. Using propensity score matching, another 58 patients with complete footprint coverage (mean age, 63.4 ± 8.03 years; 34 men and 24 women) were selected after 1:1 matching for age, sex, and tear size-the main demographic and prognostic factors of outcomes after rotator cuff repair. Clinical outcomes were compared on magnetic resonance imaging or ultrasonography at minimum of 6 months postoperatively, and functional outcomes were compared using range of motion and pain visual analog scale; American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons; Constant; University of California, Los Angeles; and Simple Shoulder Test scores at a minimum of 2 years postoperatively. A total of 18 patients in the incomplete footprint coverage group (31.0%) and 20 patients in the complete footprint coverage group (34.5%) showed healing failure, with no significant difference between groups (P = .843). In addition, there were no differences in functional outcomes between groups (P > .05 for all). Whether the rotator cuff footprint was completely covered did not affect clinical outcomes in conventional arthroscopic repair of large-sized rotator cuff tears.