Abstract:Objective To compare the efficacy of arthroscopic rotator cuff repair using single row, double row, and suture bridge techniques in treating rotator cuff injuries and analyze the influencing factors of postoperative chronic pain.Methods Clinical data of 106 patients with rotator cuff injury to receive arthroscopic rotator cuff repair from January 2021 to February 2023 were retrospectively collected, were divided into single row group (n = 35), double row (n = 32) and suture bridge group (n = 39). All patients from the three groups were evaluated using the pain visual analogue scale (VAS) and the Constant-Murley shoulder score (CMS) before surgery and 3, 6, and 12 months after surgery, and their external rotation and forward flexion range of motion were measured. The incidence of postoperative retearing and chronic pain after surgery were compared among the three groups. Patients were divided into chronic pain group (n = 21) and non-chronic pain group (n = 85) depending whether chronic pain was seen or not after surgery and the clinical data was compared. Risk factors for postoperative chronic pain in arthroscopic rotator cuff repair patients were assessed via binary Logistic regression analysis.Results The VAS in suture bridge group was significant lower than that in single row group and double row group at 3, 6 months after surgery, the VAS at 3, 6, 12 months after surgery in three groups were lower than that before surgery, the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). The CMS score in suture bridge group was significant higher than that in single row group, double row group at 3, 6 months after surgery, and all groups at 3, 6, 12 months after surgery were higher than that before surgery. The external rotation range of motion, and forward bending range of motion in suture bridge group were larger than those in single row group, double row group at 3, 6 months after surgery, and all groups at 3, 6, 12 months after surgery were larger than those before surgery, the differences was statistically significant (P < 0.05). The incidence of postoperative retearing in suture bridge group was significant lower than that in single row group and double row group, the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.0167), but there was no difference between single row group and double row group (P > 0.0167). The chronic pain occurrence was no statistical difference among the three groups (P > 0.05). The chronic pain group had higher proportions of women, tear diameter < 1.0 cm, and severe postoperative pain than those of non-chronic pain group (P < 0.05). Other clinical data [age, body mass index (BMI), course of disease, location of injury, cause of injury, smoking and drinking history] were comparable between the two groups, the differences were not statistically significant (P > 0.05). According to binary Logistic regression analysis, after adjusting for confounding factors (age, BMI, disease course, location and cause of injury), female gender, tear diameter < 1.0 cm, and severe postoperative pain were independent risk factors for chronic pain after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair surgery (P < 0.05).Conclusion In treating patients with rotator cuff injury, arthroscopic suture bridge outperforms single row and double row techniques in alleviating shoulder joint pain, promoting functional recovery and increasing range of motion, and presents lower risk of retearing. However, all three have some risk of chronic pain after surgery. Female gender, tear diameter < 1.0 cm, and severe postoperative pain are independent risk factors for postoperative chronic pain.