Background: In subscapularis (SSC) tendon tears, secure repair is crucial for maintaining the transverse force couple. The purpose of this study was to analyze the outcomes of the suture-bridge (SB) technique in arthroscopic rotator cuff repair (ARCR) for isolated SSC tears and for SSC tears accompanying other parts of rotator cuff tears.

Methods: Subjects were 53 shoulders of 52 patients who underwent ARCR for SSC tendon tears by the SB technique between September 2011 and April 2022, either having an isolated SSC tear (7 shoulders) or an SSC tear combined with other rotator cuff tears (46 shoulders). The mean postoperative follow-up period was 30.6 months. Pre and postoperative evaluations included range of motion (ROM), the Japan Orthopaedic Association scores, the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) scores, global fatty degeneration index, and tendon integrity according to the Sugaya classification based on magnetic resonance imaging findings.

Results: The median ROM significantly improved in all cases. The median Japan Orthopaedic Association scores significantly improved from 60 points to 91 points. The UCLA scores also significantly improved from 12 points to 31 points. The mean preoperative global fatty degeneration index was 1.4 (range: 1-3). One shoulder (1.9%) had a retear of the SSC, and 6 shoulders (11.3%) had a retear of other rotator cuff tendons. A comparison of the retear and nonretear groups showed significant ROM differences in preoperative flexion, abduction, and external rotation.

Conclusion: ARCR with the SB technique for SSC tears is considered to provide good clinical outcomes, though preoperative limitation of the shoulder ROM is a risk factor for retear.

Keywords: Arthroscopic rotator cuff repair; Range of motion; Rotator cuff tear; Subscapularis; Subscapularis retear; Suture-bridge.

© 2025 The Author(s).

背景： 在肩胛下肌（SSC）肌腱撕裂的情况下，确保修复对于维持横向力偶至关重要。本研究的目的是分析缝桥技术（SB）在关节镜下肩袖修复（ARCR）中用于孤立性SSC撕裂和伴随其他部位肩袖撕裂的SSC撕裂的效果。

方法： 受试者为52名患者中的53个肩膀，这些患者在2011年9月至2022年4月期间通过缝桥技术接受了ARCR治疗，其中有7个肩膀是孤立性SSC撕裂，而有46个肩膀是SSC撕裂伴随其他肩袖撕裂。平均术后随访期为30.6个月。术前和术后评估包括关节活动范围（ROM）、日本整形外科协会评分、加州大学洛杉矶分校（UCLA）评分、基于磁共振成像结果的全球脂肪退变指数以及根据Sugaya分类标准确定的肌腱完整性。

结果： 所有病例中关节活动范围的中位数均有显著改善。日本整形外科协会评分从60分提高到91分，差异具有统计学意义。UCLA评分也从12分提高到31分，差异同样具有统计学意义。术前全球脂肪退变指数的平均值为1.4（范围：1-3）。一个肩膀（1.9%）发生了SSC再撕裂，6个肩膀（11.3%）发生了其他肩袖肌腱的再撕裂。再撕裂组和非再撕裂组在术前屈曲、外展以及外旋关节活动范围方面存在显著差异。

结论： 通过缝桥技术进行SSC撕裂的ARCR被认为可以提供良好的临床效果，尽管术前肩关节活动受限是再撕裂的风险因素。

关键词： 关节镜下肩袖修复；关节活动范围；肩袖撕裂；肩胛下肌；肩胛下肌再撕裂；缝桥技术。