Partial thickness rotator cuff repair system and method

A method of performing a partial thickness rotator cuff repair, the method comprising the steps of:

• inserting a first suture anchor through a tendon of the rotator cuff and then anchoring the first suture anchor into the humerus, the first suture anchor including
• (i) an elongated body having an axially oriented bore into the body, the bore including at least one axially oriented suture passage and a wall thickness between the bore and an external surface of the body,
• (ii) a suture of gauge #2 or lower passing into the bore, around a suture attachment in the bore and back out of the bore,
• (iii) a maximum outer diameter of 4 mm, and
• (iv) external threads about a portion of the exterior surface of the body adjacent the at least one suture passage;
• wherein the first suture anchor being threaded into the humerus during the step of anchoring and wherein the suture passage comprising an area where the wall thickness goes to zero between the external threads and the bore;
• and
• wherein the first suture anchor has a pull-out resistance from the humerus of at least 25 pounds;
• inserting a second suture anchor into the humerus;
• passing a first length of suture from the first suture anchor through the tendon and to the second suture anchor whereby to hold the tendon to the humerus.