Long-term functional and structural outcome of rotator cuff repair in patients 60 years old or less

Background: The long-term outcomes of rotator cuff repair (RCR) have not been well studied. The purpose of this study was to evaluate long-term functional and structural outcomes after RCR in younger patients. Methods: A total of 49 patients (34 [69%] male) with a mean age of 51 ± 6 years were evalu...

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Main Authors: Andrew Green, MD, Kelsey Loyd, BS, Janine Molino, PhD, Peter Evangelista, MD, Stacey Gallacher, MD, Jacob Adkins, AB
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2023-01-01
Series:JSES International
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666638322002195
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author Andrew Green, MD
Kelsey Loyd, BS
Janine Molino, PhD
Peter Evangelista, MD
Stacey Gallacher, MD
Jacob Adkins, AB
author_facet Andrew Green, MD
Kelsey Loyd, BS
Janine Molino, PhD
Peter Evangelista, MD
Stacey Gallacher, MD
Jacob Adkins, AB
author_sort Andrew Green, MD
collection DOAJ
description Background: The long-term outcomes of rotator cuff repair (RCR) have not been well studied. The purpose of this study was to evaluate long-term functional and structural outcomes after RCR in younger patients. Methods: A total of 49 patients (34 [69%] male) with a mean age of 51 ± 6 years were evaluated preoperatively, and at short- and long-term follow-ups (minimum 15 years). There were 13 (27%) small, 17 (35%) medium, 14 (29%) large, and 5 (10%) massive tears. 15 (31%) had an acute repair of a traumatic tear. Long-term evaluation included physical examination, plain radiographs, ultrasound, and patient reported outcome measures (PROMs) (visual analog scale pain, Disability of Arm, Shoulder and Hand, Simple Shoulder Test, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons score, and Short Form-36). Statistical analysis was performed to determine associations between preoperative and intraoperative factors and long-term functional and structural outcome. Results: There were significant improvements in the mean short- and long-term PROMs compared to preoperatively that exceeded reported minimal clinically important differences and substantial clinical benefits. There was a slight decrease in the PROMs from the short-term to long-term follow-up. Male sex and traumatic rotator cuff tears were associated with better long-term outcomes. The number of medical co-morbidities was associated with worse long-term outcomes. Smaller initial tear size was associated with better long-term outcomes. There were 15 (31%) full thickness and 9 (18%) partial thickness recurrent rotator cuff tears, 17 (35%) had rotator cuff tear arthropathy (2 Hamada grade 1, 15 Hamada grade 2), 5 (10%) had revision surgery (2 revision RCR, 2 anatomic total shoulder, and 1 reverse total shoulder), and 13 (26%) had subsequent contralateral RCR. There were weak correlations between the presence of arthropathy and DASH (r = 0.34; P = .02) and visual analog scale pain (r = 0.29; P = .049). There were no significant correlations between the structural outcomes (recurrent rotator cuff tear, recurrent full thickness tear, acromiohumeral space, and critical shoulder angle,) and the PROMs. Discussion and Conclusion: Long-term follow-up of RCR in this relatively young patient cohort demonstrated substantial and durable patient reported functional outcome and improvement despite considerable structural deterioration. This suggests that while RCR does not arrest the progression of rotator cuff disease it may delay this progression and that patients adapt to the structural changes as they age.
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spelling doaj.art-b40fd8cbb52f4ed3b0aa5c63995458b62023-02-01T04:28:15ZengElsevierJSES International2666-63832023-01-01715866Long-term functional and structural outcome of rotator cuff repair in patients 60 years old or lessAndrew Green, MD0Kelsey Loyd, BS1Janine Molino, PhD2Peter Evangelista, MD3Stacey Gallacher, MD4Jacob Adkins, AB5Division of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Warren Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA; Corresponding author: Andrew Green, MD, Division of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Warren Alpert School of Medicine, Brown University, 1 Kettle Point Avenue, East Providence, RI 02914, USA.Warren Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, RI, USADepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, Warren Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, RI, USADepartment of Diagnostic Imaging, Warren Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, RI, USAAdvanced Orthopedics and Sports Medicine Institute, Freehold, NJ, USAWarren Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, RI, USABackground: The long-term outcomes of rotator cuff repair (RCR) have not been well studied. The purpose of this study was to evaluate long-term functional and structural outcomes after RCR in younger patients. Methods: A total of 49 patients (34 [69%] male) with a mean age of 51 ± 6 years were evaluated preoperatively, and at short- and long-term follow-ups (minimum 15 years). There were 13 (27%) small, 17 (35%) medium, 14 (29%) large, and 5 (10%) massive tears. 15 (31%) had an acute repair of a traumatic tear. Long-term evaluation included physical examination, plain radiographs, ultrasound, and patient reported outcome measures (PROMs) (visual analog scale pain, Disability of Arm, Shoulder and Hand, Simple Shoulder Test, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons score, and Short Form-36). Statistical analysis was performed to determine associations between preoperative and intraoperative factors and long-term functional and structural outcome. Results: There were significant improvements in the mean short- and long-term PROMs compared to preoperatively that exceeded reported minimal clinically important differences and substantial clinical benefits. There was a slight decrease in the PROMs from the short-term to long-term follow-up. Male sex and traumatic rotator cuff tears were associated with better long-term outcomes. The number of medical co-morbidities was associated with worse long-term outcomes. Smaller initial tear size was associated with better long-term outcomes. There were 15 (31%) full thickness and 9 (18%) partial thickness recurrent rotator cuff tears, 17 (35%) had rotator cuff tear arthropathy (2 Hamada grade 1, 15 Hamada grade 2), 5 (10%) had revision surgery (2 revision RCR, 2 anatomic total shoulder, and 1 reverse total shoulder), and 13 (26%) had subsequent contralateral RCR. There were weak correlations between the presence of arthropathy and DASH (r = 0.34; P = .02) and visual analog scale pain (r = 0.29; P = .049). There were no significant correlations between the structural outcomes (recurrent rotator cuff tear, recurrent full thickness tear, acromiohumeral space, and critical shoulder angle,) and the PROMs. Discussion and Conclusion: Long-term follow-up of RCR in this relatively young patient cohort demonstrated substantial and durable patient reported functional outcome and improvement despite considerable structural deterioration. This suggests that while RCR does not arrest the progression of rotator cuff disease it may delay this progression and that patients adapt to the structural changes as they age.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666638322002195Rotator cuffRotator cuff tearRotator cuff repairLong-term outcomeStructural outcomeRotator cuff tear arthropathy
spellingShingle Andrew Green, MD
Kelsey Loyd, BS
Janine Molino, PhD
Peter Evangelista, MD
Stacey Gallacher, MD
Jacob Adkins, AB
Long-term functional and structural outcome of rotator cuff repair in patients 60 years old or less
JSES International
Rotator cuff
Rotator cuff tear
Rotator cuff repair
Long-term outcome
Structural outcome
Rotator cuff tear arthropathy
title Long-term functional and structural outcome of rotator cuff repair in patients 60 years old or less
title_full Long-term functional and structural outcome of rotator cuff repair in patients 60 years old or less
title_fullStr Long-term functional and structural outcome of rotator cuff repair in patients 60 years old or less
title_full_unstemmed Long-term functional and structural outcome of rotator cuff repair in patients 60 years old or less
title_short Long-term functional and structural outcome of rotator cuff repair in patients 60 years old or less
title_sort long term functional and structural outcome of rotator cuff repair in patients 60 years old or less
topic Rotator cuff
Rotator cuff tear
Rotator cuff repair
Long-term outcome
Structural outcome
Rotator cuff tear arthropathy
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666638322002195
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