Fig 7.

Mattress sutures. With the patient placed in the lateral decubitus position, the right arm placed in 40°-50° of abduction and 15° of forward flexion and viewing from the posterior portal, the suture limbs from the anchor are passed. Beginning anteriorly, sutures are then retrieved individually and passed in a horizontal mattress fashion using a suture-passing device across the entire breadth of the tear. After each pass, sutures are retrieved and brought out through the anterior portal. Each pass is spaced about 3 mm. The suture-passing device is placed as far medially as possible, close to the musculotendinous junction, were the tissue quality is usually better to minimize suture cut-through.