[Functional and quality of life outcome of non-operated rotator cuff tears]

Our objective was to determine the long-term functional and quality-of-life outcomes for patients with rotator cuff tears receiving conservative treatment. We also studied correlations between the Constant and SF-36 scores.

This was a prospective survey carried out on patients having consulted in our Rehabilitation Department between January 1995 and December 2004 for radiologically-confirmed rotator cuff tears and having received medical treatment combined with a rehabilitation programme. The outcome measures used in our study were as follows: degree of motion, muscle strength, degree of pain on a visual analogical scale (VAS) and scores on the Constant and SF-36 scales.

The study population consisted of 38 women and 21 men (mean age: 61 years; range 46-75). The mean final outcome measurements were taken after an average of seven years of follow-up (range: 4-12). The VAS score for pain at rest dropped from 68.3+/-31 to 28.3+/-12 (p<10(-3)) over the follow-up period. The score for pain during effort fell from 82.5+/-36 to 40.3+/-15. In all cases, active joint mobility was better at the final assessment (p<0.001). The Constant score rose from 28.8+/-14.2 to 51.6+/-21.8. The SF36 score showed a 16% improvement. Sixty-two percent of patients were satisfied or very satisfied with this treatment. The change over time was rated as good to very good by 42 patients (71.8%). The observed improvement in quality of life was correlated with reduced pain at rest (r=0.62) and during effort (r=0.59) and with the increased Constant score.

Our results underline the benefits (in terms of short- and long-term pain reduction, functional improvements and better quality of life) of an individualized rehabilitation programme (combined with medical treatment) in cases of rotator cuff tears.