Clinical and Functional Outcomes From Rotator Cuff Tear Repair Using the Arthroscopic Versus Mini-Open Technique

Background  Rotator cuff tears cause shoulder pain and dysfunction and are commonly repaired using a surgical technique with an arthroscopic or mini-open method. This is a prospective study that compares the clinical and functional outcomes of these approaches. Objective This study aims to compare arthroscopic versus mini-open rotator cuff repair in patients by assessing function and range of motion. Methods Fifty patients were admitted to Government Medical College, Patiala, a tertiary care hospital in northern India, and treated with either of the two techniques. Outcomes measured at baseline and repeated follow-ups included shoulder range of motion and scores on the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), with statistical comparisons. Results Both techniques showed significant improvements in range of motion and function by six months, with no significant difference between the groups. The duration of surgery was the same in both cases. Conclusions Arthroscopic and mini-open repairs yielded identical clinical and functional outcomes at six months. The decision on whether or not to use surgery may be driven by the surgeon's expertise. Therefore, long-term studies are needed.