Risk factors for retear of arthroscopic rotator cuff repair using triple-row technique.

Background: The triple-row (TR) technique enhances tendon-to-bone contact and repair integrity in arthroscopic rotator cuff repair (ARCR). However, limited studies have evaluated the clinical outcomes and risk factors for retears following this technique. This study aimed to compare clinical outcomes between retear and nonretear groups after ARCR using the TR technique and identify risk factors for retear. Methods: Patients who underwent ARCR using the TR technique with at least 24 months follow-up were enrolled and categorized into retear and nonretear groups. Clinical outcomes, including range of motion, visual analog scale for pain, Constant Shoulder (CS), and University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) score, were evaluated at 3, 6, and 24 months postoperatively. The retear rate and tendon integrity were assessed at 3, 6, and 24 months follow-up using magnetic resonance imaging, and risk factors for retear were analyzed. Results: Of 181 patients enrolled, 20 (11%) had retears and 161 (89%) had no retears. The retear group was significantly older ( Conclusion: ARCR using the TR technique provides favorable clinical outcomes, even in cases with retears. However, patients with retears-especially those with large-to-massive tears or severe infraspinatus fatty infiltration-showed inferior outcomes.