Abstract:Objective To compare the early effect of arthroscopic modified Mason-Allen (mMA) and suture-bridge technique for small and medium-size rotator cuff tear.Methods 60 patients with small and medium-size rotator cuff tear were divided into mMA group and suture bridge group, 30 cases each. The mMA group was treated with mMA technique, and the suture bridge group was treated with suture-bridge technique. The operative time, the number of anchors used, blood loss, shoulder mobility, pain visual analogue scale (VAS), American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) scale, the Constant-Murley score and the rate of re-tear were compared between the two groups.Results The operative time and the number of anchors used in mMA group were less than those in suture bridge group (P < 0.05), and there was no difference of blood loss between the two groups (P > 0.05). After operation, the shoulder joint motion of two groups was increased compared with before operation (P < 0.05), and there was no statistical difference between the two groups (P > 0.05). After surgery, VAS of the two groups was lower than that before surgery, ASES scale and Constant-Murley scores were higher than those before surgery (P < 0.05), there was no difference in VAS, ASES and Constant-Murley scores between the two groups (P > 0.05). There was no difference in re-tear rate between the two groups (P > 0.05).Conclusion Arthroscopic mMA is similar to suture-bridge technique in the treatment of small and medium-size rotator cuff tear, but operative time of mMA is shorter and it requires less anchors.