[Early postoperative functional outcomes and influencing factors in patients with rotator cuff injury]

To explore the factors influencing the Constant-Murley score at 3 months after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair, and to provide evidence for early identification of patients at risk of poor recovery and for the development of individualized rehabilitation protocols.

Using a convenience sampling method, 146 patients with rotator cuff injury who underwent arthroscopic rotator cuff repair between May 2025 and August 2025 were enrolled. There were 68 males and 78 females, with ages ranging from 41 to 74 years (mean, 56.2 years). At 3 months postoperatively, shoulder function was assessed using the Constant-Murley score, pain intensity was evaluated with the visual analogue scale (VAS) score, exercise adherence was measured with the Orthopedic Patient Functional Exercise Compliance Scale, and active shoulder forward flexion and abduction ranges were recorded. The independent variables included gender, age, body mass index (BMI), affected side, smoking history, alcohol consumption, educational level, acromial type, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, as well as postoperative acromiohumeral distance, VAS score, and the Orthopedic Patient Functional Exercise Compliance Scale score. The dependent variable was the 3-month Constant-Murley score. Univariate analysis and multiple linear regression were performed to identify influencing factors associated with the Constant-Murley score.

At 3 months postoperatively, the acromiohumeral distance ranged from 6 to 16 mm (mean, 9.19 mm); VAS scores ranged from 0 to 6 (mean, 3.2); Orthopedic Patient Functional Exercise Compliance Scale scores ranged from 20 to 70 (mean, 50.1); Constant-Murley scores ranged from 35 to 100 (mean, 73.7); active forward flexion ranged from 55° to 180° (mean, 128.84°); and active abduction ranged from 25° to 170° (mean, 122.81°). Univariate analysis showed that smoking history, educational level, acromial type, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, BMI, VAS score, and Orthopedic Patient Functional Exercise Compliance Scale score were significantly associated with the 3-month Constant-Murley score ( P<0.05). Multiple linear regression revealed that hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and higher VAS score were independent risk factors for Constant-Murley score ( P<0.05), while a higher BMI and Orthopedic Patient Functional Exercise Compliance Scale score were protective factors for Constant-Murley score ( P<0.05).

Overall, shoulder function recovered well at 3 months after rotator cuff repair, but there remains room for further improvement. Clinicians should emphasize perioperative management of patients with comorbid chronic diseases, strengthen pain intervention, and promote exercise adherence in order to optimize early postoperative functional recovery.