Ten-year assessment of primary rotator cuff repairs

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Sports Medicine
• Musculoskeletal Research

Background:

• Rotator cuff tears are common injuries affecting shoulder function.
• Long-term outcomes of primary rotator cuff repair are crucial for patient management.
• Previous studies suggest variable long-term results, necessitating further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the 10-year outcomes of primary rotator cuff repair.
• To assess patient-reported pain, return to activities, and overall satisfaction.
• To determine if repair outcomes deteriorate over a decade.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of 30 patients undergoing primary rotator cuff repair.
• All patients had an acromioplasty; no distal clavicle excision was performed.
• Data collected included tear size, patient age, subjective and objective outcomes, and Neer's criteria.

Main Results:

• 82% of patients reported decreased pain and returned to pre-injury activities.
• 70% achieved excellent or good subjective results; 80% achieved good or excellent objective results.
• Overall, 64% had good or excellent outcomes, and 72% achieved satisfactory results by Neer's criteria.

Conclusions:

• Rotator cuff repair outcomes do not significantly deteriorate with a 10-year follow-up.
• A trend towards better results was observed in patients younger than 55 and those with smaller tears.
• The study supports the durability of rotator cuff repair results over a decade.