Strength recovery after arthroscopic anterosuperior cuff repair: analysis of a consecutive series

The purpose of this study was to look at the functional outcomes of arthroscopic repair of anterosuperior rotator cuff tears.

Sixty-one patients who underwent arthroscopic repair of anterosuperior cuff tears were retrospectively reviewed. At a minimum 6 months of follow-up, shoulder functional outcome scores including the Constant score (CS), simple shoulder test (SST) and visual analogic scale (VAS) were collected. Strength recovery for supraspinatus and subscapularis was investigated.

All patients (mean age 59 ± 7) were available at a mean follow-up of 18 ± 7 months. The average CS improved from 30.8 ± 10.2 preoperatively to 76.5 ± 12.0 postoperatively, average SST from 2.6 ± 2.0 to 8.8 ± 2.9 and average VAS pain scale from 3.8 ± 1 to 0.5 ± 0.5 (p < 0.0001). Strength at belly-press and Jobe tests significantly improved (p < 0.0001). All patients with the exception of one were satisfied with the intervention.

Arthroscopic repair of anterosuperior rotator cuff tears provides a significant improvement in pain relief and shoulder function. Strength recovery is demonstrated in medium correlation with tendon healing.