Comparative efficacy of 5 suture configurations for arthroscopic rotator cuff tear repair: a network meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND

Rotator cuff tear is one of the most common complaint with shoulder pain, disability, or dysfunction. So far, different arthroscopic techniques including single row (SR), double row (DR), modified Mason-Allen (MMA), suture bridge (SB) and transosseous (TO) have been identified to repair rotator cuff. However, no study has reported the comparative efficacy of these 5 suture configurations. The overall aim of this network meta-analysis was to analyze the clinical outcomes and healing rate with arthroscopy among SR, DR, MMA, SB and TO.

METHODS

A systematic literature was searched from PubMed, EBSCO-MEDLINE, Web of Science, google scholar and www.dayi100.com , and checked for the inclusion and exclusion standards. The network meta-analysis was conducted using Review Manager 5.3 and SATA 15.0 software.

RESULTS

Thirty-four studies were eligible for inclusion, including 15 randomized controlled trials, 17 retrospective and 2 prospective cohort studies, with total 3250 shoulders. Two individual reviewers evaluated the quality of the 34 studies, the score form 5 and 9 of 10 were attained according to the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale for the 17 retrospective and 2 prospective studies. There was no significant distinction for the Constant score among 5 groups in the 16 studies with 1381 shoulders. The treatment strategies were ranked as MMA, DR, SB, SR and TO. In ASES score, 14 studies included 1464 shoulders showed that no significant differences was showed among all 5 groups after surgery. Whereas the efficacy probability was TO, MMA, DR, SB and SR according to the cumulative ranking curve. The healing rate in 25 studies include 2023 shoulders was significant in both SR versus DR [risk ratio 0.45 with 95% credible interval (0.31, 0.65)], and SR versus SB [risk ratio 0.45 (95% credible interval 0.29, 0.69)], and no significant in the other comparison, the ranking probability was MMA, SB, DR, TO and SR.

CONCLUSION

Based on the clinical results, this network meta-analysis revealed that these 5 suture configurations shows no significant difference. Meanwhile, suture bridge may be the optimum treatment strategy which may improve the healing rate postoperatively, whereas the DR is a suboptimal option for arthroscopic rotator cuff repairs.