A Weaving Rip-Stop Technique Leads to a Significantly Increased Load to Failure and Reduction in Suture-Tendon Cut-Through in a Biomechanical Model of Rotator Cuff Repair.

purposeTo present an alternative arthroscopic rip-stop technique with a single suture tape weaved through the tendon from anterior to posterior and to biomechanically test its strength against a control technique consisting of a single-row repair with simple sutures.

methodsThis was a controlled biomechanical study. Dissection and harvesting of the supraspinatus muscle-tendon unit were performed along the cable in 9 matched-pair cadaveric shoulders. Samples were divided into 2 groups: simple suture repair only (SSR) and simple suture repair with rip-stop (SSPR). Biomechanical testing was performed with an initial preload, followed by cyclic loading and then ramp to failure. Peak-to-peak displacement, stiffness (in newtons per millimeter), load at failure (in newtons), and failure mechanism were recorded. Data were compared using the paired-sample

resultsThe average peak-to-peak displacement for SSR samples was not significantly different from that of SSPR samples (

conclusionsAn alternative rip-stop technique is presented in this biomechanical model that may assist surgeons to better deal with difficult rotator cuff repairs. Weaving a suture tape as a rip-stop can increase stiffness, achieve higher failure loads when compared with simple suture repair with no rip-stop, and reduce tendon cut-through. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This study provides insight into a variation of rip-stop stitch techniques that may help solve the clinical problem of failure occurring at the suture-tendon interface, specifically tendon cut-through.