Efficacy of Bone Marrow-Stimulating Technique in Rotator Cuff Repair

BACKGROUND: This study investigates the effect of microfracture as a bone marrow-stimulating(BMS) technique on rotatory cuff(RC) healing using a chronic RC tear model. METHODS: Chronic retracted RC tendon tear model was created in the subscapularis(SSC) tendons of 20 New Zealand rabbits, bilaterally. The tendons were repaired after eight weeks using a single-row configuration with suture anchors. In right shoulders, tendons were repaired in a standard fashion(control group). In left shoulders, microfractures were performed on the SSC footprint before repair(microfracture group). The animals were sacrificed 8 and 16 weeks after repair. The repaired tendons were tested biomechanically for their ultimate failure load, linear stiffness and elongation at failure. Gross and histological evaluation of the tendon-to-bone healing was evaluated. RESULTS: In every sample, the SSC tendon was attached to its footprint on the lesser tuberosity. In microfracture group, collagen fibers were organized in relatively ticker bundles at both time intervals. The mean ultimate failure load of microfracture was significantly greater than that of control group at 8 (148.4+31 N vs. 101.4+26 N; p=0.011) and 16 (155+30 N vs. 114.9+25 N; p=0.017) weeks after repair, respectively. There were no significant differences between the two groups at each time interval for linear stiffness (15.9+2.7N/mm vs. 15.8+1.3N/mm, p=0.798 and 16.9+4.3N/mm vs. 17.1+3.6N/mm, p=0.848, respectively) and elongation at failure (4.7+1.1 mm vs. 4.7+1.3 mm, p=0.848 and 4.8+1.5 mm vs. 4.9+0.9 mm, p=0.749, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The BMS technique of microfracture on the tuberosity of the repaired chronic rotator cuff tear promotes the dynamic tendon healing with significant ultimate force to failure and apparent microscopic findings.