From tear to repair: A systematic review of frequently asked questions before rotator cuff surgery
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Updated: Jul 10, 2026
Reverse Total Shoulder Arthroplasty
Published on: July 5, 2011
Marium Quaunine1, Aadam Ahmad2, Borna Guevel3
1Department of Trauma & Orthopaedics, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Lewisham & Greenwich NHS Trust, London, UK.
Background:
Patient education is essential in managing orthopaedic conditions and enabling shared decision-making. Rotator cuff tears are among the most common shoulder pathologies, but the specific questions patients ask remain unclear. This review identifies frequently asked patient questions about rotator cuff injury and repair to help develop targeted educational resources.
Methods:
A systematic search was conducted in April 2025 across PubMed, Embase, and Scopus using terms related to rotator cuff pathology and patient education. After removing duplicates, two reviewers independently screened studies for inclusion. Studies were eligible if they reported patient questions regarding rotator cuff tears or surgery. A narrative synthesis was used to identify and rank the most frequently asked questions.
Results:
Of 2298 records, 10 studies met inclusion criteria, yielding 147 unique patient questions. 17 questions appeared in at least three studies, and 10 in seven or more. The top questions included: non-operative treatment options, the nature of rotator cuff repair, surgical outcomes, post-surgical therapy, untreated consequences, recovery time, symptoms, diagnosis, postoperative pain, and surgical risks.
Conclusion:
Researchers believe that patients consistently seek information on rotator cuff diagnosis, management, outcomes, and risks. This review offers an evidence-based framework to improve patient education materials and support informed decision-making.
