Is one year follow-up sufficient to assess functional outcomes after rotator cuff repair?

Arthroscopic rotator cuff repair (ARCR) traditionally requires a 2-year follow-up to report results. However, most of the recovery occurs within the first year. The aim of this study was to determine if there are clinically significant changes in patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) and clinically significant outcomes (CSOs) between the first and second postoperative years.

Retrospective analysis of 140 patients. Four scales (ASES, VAS, PSQI, and SANE) were evaluated preoperatively and at 1 and 2 years postoperatively. Clinical relevance was measured using the minimal clinically important difference (MCID). Linear regression was used to identify factors associated with changes in outcomes.

Improvements were observed in all scores; however, although statistically significant, these changes were minimal and lacked clinical relevance as they did not reach the minimal clinically important difference (MCID). Clinically significant outcome (CSO) rates remained stable, except for the SANE score. Factors such as diabetes, subscapularis tears, and tear size were associated with score changes during the second year.

Although there are slight statistical improvements in function, pain, and sleep quality between the first and second years, these are not clinically significant. A one-year follow-up is sufficient to evaluate functional outcomes after ARCR in the majority of patients.