Bilateral arthroscopic rotator cuff repair using a single-stage procedure

Bilateral rotator cuff tears requiring repair are not uncommon. Typically, these tears have been treated with staged surgeries. However, in appropriately selected cases, single-stage repair is preferable because it reduces costs, the number of admissions, total hospitalization, and rehabilitation time. It can also reduce patient suffering by providing relief with a single procedure. The authors compared 10 patients with a mean age of 55 years who had bilateral symptomatic rotator cuff tear and underwent single-stage bilateral arthroscopic cuff repair (group A) with 17 patients with a mean age of 55 years who had unilateral symptomatic rotator cuff tear and underwent unilateral arthroscopic cuff repair (group B). Clinical assessment was performed preoperatively and at 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively with the visual analog scale, the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) score, and the Korean shoulder score. Overall function, pain, and strength were improved significantly in both groups. Although the difference in visual analog scale score between both groups decreased during follow-up, this score was significantly lower in group B (P=.026). At initial follow-up, the UCLA score was higher in group A. However, at the last follow-up, this score was significantly higher in group B (P<.001). The Korean shoulder score was significantly higher in group A at all follow-up times (P<.001). The study findings showed that single-stage bilateral rotator cuff repair is a preferable option in appropriately selected patients. It can provide satisfactory results without additional complications, and it does not lead to longer hospitalization or rehabilitation than unilateral repair.