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Postoperative rotator cuff integrity: can we consider type 3 Sugaya classification as retear?
Moganadass Muniandy1, Lucas Niglis2, Jean Claude Dosch3
1Department of Orthopedic, Hospital Kuala Lumpur, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery
|August 12, 2020
Summary
Type 3 Sugaya classification in rotator cuff repair is not a retear. Patients with type 3 showed less muscle degeneration and better function than type 4/5, indicating successful healing.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedic surgery
- Musculoskeletal imaging
- Regenerative medicine
Background:
- The Sugaya classification assesses rotator cuff tendon integrity post-surgery.
- Current literature lacks consensus on whether Sugaya type 3 indicates retear or healing.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if Sugaya type 3 represents a retear.
- Compare long-term muscle degeneration and functional outcomes of Sugaya type 3 versus types 4 and 5.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective multicenter review of rotator cuff repairs (2003-2004) with 10-year follow-up.
- Assessed supraspinatus/infraspinatus fatty infiltration, muscle atrophy, and Constant score via MRI and functional tests.
- Compared Sugaya type 3 patients with type 4 and 5 patients.
Main Results:
- No significant preoperative differences in muscle degeneration or Constant score between groups.
- Type 3 patients had better preoperative Strength scores.
- Postoperatively, type 3 showed significantly less muscle degeneration and higher Constant scores than type 4/5 (P < .001).
Conclusions:
- Sugaya type 3 supraspinatus tendons demonstrate less muscle degeneration and superior functional outcomes compared to type 4/5.
- These findings suggest Sugaya type 3 should be classified as healed, not a retear.
