The Effect of Hand Dominance on Functional Outcome Following Single Row Rotator Cuff Repair

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Musculoskeletal Research
• Rehabilitation Science

Background:

• Rotator cuff tears are a frequent cause of shoulder pain and disability.
• Surgical treatment offers good outcomes, but results can vary.
• Factors influencing surgical success require further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine if hand dominance affects subjective functional outcomes after rotator cuff repair surgery.
• To provide data for patient counseling regarding dominant hand function post-surgery.

Main Methods:

• A prospective study followed 144 patients for 3 years post-rotator cuff repair.
• Data collected included demographics, hand dominance, and functional outcomes via the L'insalata shoulder questionnaire.
• Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 22.

Main Results:

• A statistically significant correlation was found between dominant hand and operated side (P=0.005).
• The mean functional outcome score was slightly higher in the dominant surgery group (89.8 +/- 14.2) versus the non-dominant group (87.4 +/- 17.5).
• Multivariate analysis revealed this difference to be statistically non-significant (p = 0.4).

Conclusions:

• Rotator cuff repair yields similar functional outcomes regardless of whether the dominant or non-dominant arm is operated on.
• Findings can assist in managing patient expectations about dominant hand function post-surgery.