Purpose
To investigate clinical outcomes in patients who underwent arthroscopic repair of
isolated partial-thickness rotator cuff tears (PTRCTs) of the supraspinatus tendon
with a minimum follow-up period of 5 years.
Methods
All patients who had undergone arthroscopic repair of isolated PTRCTs at least 5 years
earlier were included. Preoperatively and postoperatively, the American Shoulder and
Elbow Surgeons, QuickDASH (short version of Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and
Hand questionnaire), and Short Form 12 Physical Component Summary scores were collected,
along with postoperative satisfaction (10-point scale) and return to activity. The
associations between (1) patient age and outcome scores and (2) location of partial-thickness
tear (articular vs bursal sided) and outcome scores were evaluated. Failure was defined
as revision surgery of the rotator cuff repair.
Results
The study included 24 shoulders (24 patients comprising 9 women and 15 men). Follow-up
data were available on 20 shoulders (7 women and 13 men, 83% follow-up) at a mean
of 6 ± 1 years postoperatively. The mean age at index surgery was 55 ± 11 years; 6
bursal- and 14 articular-sided tears were repaired. No patient required revision surgery.
All scores significantly improved from preoperatively to postoperatively (P < .05); the median satisfaction rating (1, not satisfied; 10, completely satisfied)
was 10 (range, 1-10). Neither patient age nor tear location correlated with outcome
scores (P > .05). Seventeen patients indicated that they participated in previous recreational
activity. Of these patients, 13 (76%) returned to the original level or a similar
level of activity, 3 (18%) returned to activity at a lower level, and only 1 (6%)
indicated an inability to return to activity.
Conclusions
Patients undergoing arthroscopic repair of PTRCTs can expect excellent clinical outcomes
with low failure rates at midterm follow-up given that no patient progressed to revision
rotator cuff repair during follow-up. The return-to-activity rate was very high after
repair of isolated PTRCTs. Neither patient age nor tear location was associated with
outcome scores.
Level of Evidence
Level IV, retrospective case series.
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Article Info
Publication History
Published online: October 31, 2017
Accepted:
July 21,
2017
Received:
January 16,
2017
Footnotes
See commentary on page 82
The authors report the following potential conflict of interest or source of funding: A.R.V. receives support from Steadman Philippon Research Institute (SPRI). S.M. receives support from Patent “Tissue Tensioning and Related Methods,” Mannava et al., January 2015. M.P.H. receives support from SPRI. Employment. SPRI receives funding from Smith & Nephew, Arthrex, Siemens, Össur. E.M.F. receives support from SPRI. Employment. SPRI receives funding from Smith & Nephew, Arthrex, Siemens, Össur. J.P. receives support from SPRI. Arthrex supports his position at SPRI. P.J.M. receives support from Arthrex, Medbridge, Springer Publishing. Consultant's fees and royalties. P.J.M. is a partner of The Steadman Clinic. SPRI receives funding from Smith & Nephew, Arthrex, Siemens, Össur. Arthrex, Medbridge, Springer Publishing. Consultant's fees and royalties. GameReady, VuMedi. Owns stock or stock options. Arthrex. Financial support for a part of his research. Full ICMJE author disclosure forms are available for this article online, as supplementary material.
Identification
Copyright
© 2017 Published by Elsevier on behalf of the Arthroscopy Association of North America
