Original Article

Short-term results (1 year) of vented versus solid polyetheretherketone anchors in treatment of rotator cuff tears

¹ Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Hospital de Santa Maria-Centro Hospitalar Lisboa Norte, 1649-035 Lisboa, Portugal
² Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Hospital CUF Descobertas, 1998-018 Lisboa, Portugal

^* Corresponding author: marco.sarmento@sapo.pt

Received: 18 June 2019
Accepted: 7 July 2019

Abstract

Background: Due to the rotator cuff retear after being surgically repaired, some strategies have been developed. The authors verified that the possibility of polyetheretherketone (PEEK) vented anchors promoted a better clinical and healing process than PEEK solid anchors.

Methods: A prospective and randomized study was designed with 38 patients treated with PEEK anchors, 18 of whom with vented anchors and 20 with solid ones. Demographic, clinical and radiologic data were collected before and during surgery (time 0) and at 12 months of follow-up.

Results: In the final follow-up (12 months), there was no difference in the visual analogic scale (VAS) scale between groups (1.7 points vs 1.9 points; p = 0.731), neither in the DASH score (34.2 points vs 23.9 points; p = 0.268), nor in absolute Constant score (76.9 points vs 77.3 points; p = 0.910). In MRI, 10 patients had their cuff tear healed in the vented group and 15 in the solid group (p = 0.173).

Conclusion: The new designed vented anchors do not add any advantage when compared to solids ones, at least within the first year after surgery.