A Biomechanical Comparison of Knot-Minimizing Rotator Cuff Tendon Repair Systems

Arthroscopic rotator cuff repair has become a popular alternative to more invasive open repair techniques due to quicker recovery times and lower morbidity rates [1,3,4]. In order for the tendon to heal it must be held tightly to its insertion site with surgical sutures to restore the tendon’s original footprint [1]. Recently several companies have begun to offer products decreasing the number of knots a surgeon is required to tie during a repair. Most incorporate the use of four bone anchors, one pair (medial) that are integrated with the sutures and the other (lateral) that capture the free end of the sutures. Two particular systems, specifically PushLock (Arthrex) and Versalok (DePuy Mitek) are typically used in similar configurations, but have yet to be fully analyzed in biomechanical studies. The purpose of this study was to characterize the mechanical integrity of each repair system. We used a human cadaveric model and compared gap formation, stiffness, and ultimate strength between the PushLock and Versalok systems.