Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 23, 2026
Arthroscopic Management of Massive Irreparable Rotator Cuff Tears: Whole Rotator Cable Reconstruction Using Proximal Biceps Tendon Autograft
Published on: June 6, 2025
Functional outcomes of traumatic and non-traumatic rotator cuff tears after arthroscopic repair
José Jorge Kitagaki Abechain1, Glaydson Gomes Godinho1, Fabio Teruo Matsunaga1
1José Jorge Kitagaki Abechain, Fabio Teruo Matsunaga, Nicola Archetti Netto, Julia Pozzetti Daou, Marcel Jun Sugawara Tamaoki, Shoulder and Elbow Surgery Sector of the Hand and Upper Limb Surgery Course, Orthopedics and Traumatology Department, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP 04038-030, Brazil.
Aim:
To compare the functional outcomes of traumatic and non-traumatic rotator cuff tears after arthroscopic repair.
Methods:
Eighty-seven patients with rotator cuff tears following arthroscopic treatment were divided into traumatic and non-traumatic tear groups. Postoperative muscle strength and outcomes using the modified University of California, Los Angeles score were evaluated. Sex, age, affected limb and dominant limb were correlated between groups. Muscle strength of the repaired and unaffected shoulders was compared. Rotator cuff injury size was measured.
Results:
Of the 87 patients who underwent rotator cuff repairs, 35 had traumatic tears and 52 had non-traumatic tears. In patients with non-traumatic tears, the average age was 59 years, 74.5% were female, 96.1% were right-hand dominant and 92.3% had their dominant shoulder affected. Patients with traumatic tears were 59.5 years old on average, 51.4% were female, 91.4% were right-hand dominant and 88.5% had their dominant shoulder affected. No difference existed in the mean modified University of California, Los Angeles score between patients with traumatic tears (33.7) compared with those with non-traumatic tears (32.8). No strength differences were observed between groups: The strength difference between the non-affected and affected sides was 1.21 kg in the non-traumatic group and 1.39 kg in the traumatic group (P = 0.576), while the strength ratio between the non-affected/affected sides was 0.805 in the non-traumatic group and 0.729 in the traumatic group (P = 0.224).
Conclusion:
The functional results of traumatic rotator cuff repairs are similar to non-traumatic tears. Both outcomes are satisfactory.
