Mattress suture-bridge technique for bursal-side partial-thickness rotator cuff tears.

The standard procedure used to repair partial-thickness tears involves initial progression of the lesion to a full-thickness tear prior to tendon repair. However, the option for a bursal-side partial-thickness rotator cuff tear includes the preservation of as much of the remaining intact fibers as possible. Instead of inserting suture anchors in the medial row, as in the conventional suture-bridge technique, two mattress sutures are inserted into the rotator cuff. Full-thickness access is achieved using a percutaneous spinal needle and medial mattress sutures to preserve the articular bone attachment of the remnant fibers and to compress the repaired tendon on the footprint. Our method can help preserve the remnant rotator cuff tendon without tissue damage and can restore the normal rotator cuff footprint.