Table 1.
Summary of studies comparing two different double-row constructs.
| Study design | Repair type | N | Follow-up | Relevant findings | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spang et al. (2009) [27] | Cadaveric (ovine) | TOE vs. Knotless TOE | 10 fresh frozen cadavers in each group | – | No significant difference between two constructs |
| Nassos et al. (2012) [22] | Cadaveric (human) | TOE vs. Knotless TOE | 6 fresh frozen cadavers in each group | – | TOE repair technique best prevents leakage onto the rotator cuff footprint compared with knotless TOE repairs |
| Busfield et al. (2008) [23] | Cadaveric (human) | TOE vs. Knotless TOE | 6 fresh frozen cadavers in each group | – | The addition of a knotless medial row compromises the construct leading to greater gapping and failure at lower loads |
| Burkhart et al. (2009) [28] | Cadaveric (human) | Double Row vs. Knotless TOE | 7 fresh frozen cadavers in each group | – | Similar yield loads, ultimate loads, and cyclic displacements between two constructs |
| Hein et al. (2015) [48] | Systematic review | Double Row vs. TOE | 32 studies; 1353 repairs | Minimum 1 year | No differences in retear rates were found |
| Kim et al. (2012) [49] | Retrospective comparative study | Double Row vs. TOE | 26 patients in each group | Average 33 months (range, 10–54) | Comparable patient satisfaction, functional outcome, and rates of retear between two constructs |
| Rhee et al. (2012) [54] | Retrospective comparative study | TOE vs. Knotless TOE | 59 patients in TOE, 51 patients in Knotless TOE group | Average 22 months (range, 12–34) | Similar clinical results between two constructs. However, the knotless group had a significantly lower retear rate compared with the conventional knot-tying group |
| Millett et al. (2017) [55] | Retrospective comparative study | TOE vs. Knotless TOE | 155 shoulders in 151 patients | Average 2.9 years (range 2.0–5.4 years) | The repair technique did not affect the final functional outcomes, but patients with Knotless TOE were less likely to have a full-thickness rotator cuff retear |
| Boyer et al. (2015) [53] | Prospective comparative study | TOE vs. Knotless TOE | 38 patients in TOE, 35 patients in Knotless TOE group | Average 29 months (range, 23–32) | Both bridging repair techniques achieved successful functional outcomes. In terms of structural outcome, the knotless TOE construct showed a lower but not significant retear rate |