suturebridge

SutureBridge is an arthroscopic surgical technique used in rotator cuff repair that creates a sutured bridge across the tendon footprint on the humeral head. It uses a medial row of anchors connected by sutures that are then secured laterally to form a broad, compressed contact area between the torn tendon and its footprint, aiming to enhance tendon-bone healing.

The procedure typically involves preparing the rotator cuff footprint, placing medial-row anchors at the articular margin, and passing sutures through the torn edge. Sutures are then secured to lateral-row anchors, forming a bridge that compresses the tendon medially and laterally over the footprint. Many variations use knotless anchors or suture tapes to distribute load more evenly.

Indications generally include symptomatic full-thickness rotator cuff tears in adults, particularly larger or more complex tears where improved footprint coverage and load distribution may be beneficial. The technique may be less suitable for extremely retracted or severely degenerative tears with tissue that cannot hold sutures.

Advantages of the suture bridge approach include increased footprint coverage, greater contact area between tendon and bone, and potentially improved initial fixation and healing. Limitations include higher implant cost, longer operative time, technical complexity, and a risk of suture cut-out or stiffness in some patients. Outcomes reported in the literature show good function and tendon integrity in many cases, with results comparable to other double-row or transosseous-equivalent repairs in several series.

See also: rotator cuff repair, double-row repair, transosseous-equivalent repair.