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Updated: Jul 11, 2025
Reverse Total Shoulder Arthroplasty
Published on: July 5, 2011
Obesity negatively affects outcomes following arthroscopic rotator cuff repair at four-year follow-up
Nata Parnes1, John P Scanaliato2, John C Dunn2
1Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Carthage Area Hospital. Carthage, NY, USA.
Introduction:
The purpose is to evaluate the influence of obesity (BMI 30 to 39.9 kg/m2) on surgical outcomes following arthroscopic rotator cuff repair surgery.
Materials And Methods:
A retrospective review was performed examining the outcomes of arthroscopic rotator cuff repair in both a normal weight (BMI 18.5 to 24.9 kg/m2) and an obese (BMI 30 to 39.9 kg/m2) patient population, specifically looking at functional outcomes and range of motion. Secondary variables analyzed were surgical time, complications, and medical comorbidities.
Results:
52 normal weight patients (mean BMI 23.7 ± 2.1) and 59 obese patients (mean BMI 34.0 ± 2.4) were included. Both groups demonstrated statistically significant improvements in VAS, SANE and ASES scores (P < 0.0001), however there were significantly better outcomes in the normal weight group in VAS (0.56 ± 0.96 vs 1.42 ± 2.22; P = 0.0108), ASES (96.1 ± 5.8 vs 90.6 ± 15.6; P = 0.0192), and internal rotation (9.2 ± 3.0 vs 10.9 ± 2.3; P = 0.0010). Additionally, the obese cohort had more complications, longer surgical times, and a greater comorbid background.
Conclusions:
Obesity is associated with significantly more comorbid conditions, surgical complications, longer surgical time, and worse patient reported outcomes than normal weight patients undergoing arthroscopic rotator cuff repair.
