Mobility recovery after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Sports Medicine
• Rehabilitation Science

Background:

• Arthroscopic rotator cuff repair is a common procedure for shoulder injuries.
• Understanding mobility recovery patterns is crucial for patient expectations and treatment planning.
• Tear size significantly influences surgical outcomes and rehabilitation trajectories.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze range of motion (ROM) progression following arthroscopic rotator cuff repair.
• To compare ROM recovery across different rotator cuff tear sizes: small, large, and massive.
• To evaluate changes in ROM during the pre- and postoperative phases for each tear group.

Main Methods:

• A cohort study involving 92 patients with reparable rotator cuff tears.
• Patients were categorized into three groups based on tear size: small (29 patients), large (31 patients), and massive (32 patients).
• Range of motion was measured preoperatively and at 45, 70, and 100 days post-arthroscopic repair.

Main Results:

• Small tears showed excellent recovery across all ROM parameters.
• Large tears demonstrated improvement in most parameters, with flexion being an exception.
• Massive tears exhibited improvement only in external and internal rotation, with other parameters lagging.

Conclusions:

• The extent of mobility recovery after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair is dependent on tear size.
• Postoperative rehabilitation protocols play a critical role in achieving favorable outcomes.
• Knowledge of ROM recovery patterns informs patients, surgeons, and physiatrists, guiding treatment and expectations.