Intraoperative Channeling in Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair: Letter to the Editor

Abstract

The trial (NCT01877772) did not demonstrate the superiority of intraoperative bone channeling in rotator cuff repair over standard rotator cuff repair at 24 months postoperatively. Milano and colleagues 2 performed microfractures that were about 5 mm deep and 1.5 mm wide. The trial showed that the microfracture group had a greater healing rate for large tears involving the supraspinatus and infraspinatus. We hypothesize that the underlying mechanism of this effect may be related to the different method of the bone channeling technique. Lapner and colleagues 1 used a 2-mm K-wire, which was advanced into the insertion site through the cortex and into the metaphyseal bone of the proximal humerus (~4 cm). What confused us is the depth of the hole and the scope of bone channeling in the article.