Abstract
Rotator cuff tears are an increasingly recognizable and common problem amongst the elderly. We undertook this review to assess outcome from open surgical rotator cuff repair and acromioplasty in patients over the age of 70 years.
A retrospective review of 61 patients with 64 full thickness rotator cuff tears treated with open repair and decompression acromioplasty between 1/1/92 and 30/6/04.To evaluate the current functional state and satisfaction (mean time from surgery 46.3 months) 50 patients were contacted and invited to attend for clinical evaluation using Constant and Murley’s functional score and/or answer a modified subjective 12 point Simple Shoulder Test. Eleven patients were not contactable despite attempts through post and phone.
All grades of tears were reparable with 48 being good tendon to bone. All the patients underwent a six week supervised physiotherapy programme. Complications included 6 frozen shoulder and seven cases of re- rupture .One patient each developed pulmonary embolism and reflex sympathetic dystrophy. Based on the definitive scoring of Constant and Murley’s 31 were rated as excellent (80–100 points) 9 good (65–79), 2 fair (50–64) and 2 poor (less than 50). Out of the total 43 patients (44 shoulders) examined and scored 90% showed excellent and good results.
Symptomatic rotator cuff tears in the elderly, active and healthy patients treated by a surgical repair results in good and early functional return, lasting pain relief and excellent patient satisfaction and should be actively considered as a definitive mode of treatment in this age group.
The abstracts were prepared by Editorial Secretary Jean-Claude Theis. Correspondence should be addressed to NZOA at Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Dunedin Hospital, Private Bag 1921, Dunedin, New Zealand.
