Mini-open rotator cuff repair does not result in intractable stiffness.

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Sports Medicine
• Shoulder Reconstruction

Background:

• Rotator cuff tears are common, often requiring surgical repair.
• Arthroscopic anterior acromioplasty and mini-open repair are utilized for superior rotator cuff tears.
• Potential complications include postoperative stiffness and deltoid muscle damage.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the incidence of intractable postoperative stiffness after arthroscopic anterior acromioplasty and mini-open repair.
• To assess the occurrence of deltoid damage following these procedures.
• To determine the functional outcomes and range of motion after surgical repair of full-thickness superior rotator cuff tears.

Main Methods:

• Prospective study of 83 repairs (80 patients) of full-thickness superior rotator cuff tears.
• Procedures included primary arthroscopic anterior acromioplasty and mini-open repair.
• Follow-up averaged 57.2 months, comparing pre-operative and final range of motion, and functional scores.

Main Results:

• Significant improvements observed in active forward elevation, passive forward elevation, and active external rotation at 90° abduction.
• Final range of motion in operative shoulders was comparable to the contralateral shoulder.
• American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) shoulder index improved significantly from 50.0 to 88.3 (P<.0001).

Conclusions:

• Arthroscopic anterior acromioplasty and mini-open repair lead to significant functional improvements in patients with superior rotator cuff tears.
• These surgical techniques do not result in intractable postoperative stiffness or deltoid damage.
• The procedures demonstrate a favorable safety profile and effective restoration of shoulder function.