RESULTS OF ARTHROSCOPIC ROTATOR CUFF REPAIR.

Abstract

The aim of this prospective study was to report the mid-term results of arthroscopic repair of full thickness rotator cuff tears.

One hundred and four shoulders in 102 consecutive patients were operated within a two-year period. There were 52 female and 50 male patients with a mean age of 64 years (range 41 to 79). Standard arthroscopic techniques of cuff repair were used, under regional inter-scalene block and balanced anaesthesia. The mean size of the cuff tear was 3 cm (range 1 to 6 cm). Patients were discharged within 24 hours and followed a specific rehabilitation protocol. An assessment was performed pre-operatively and at a mean follow-up of 7 months (range 3 to 24 months). Outcome measures included pain, activities of daily living, shoulder power and function and level of patient satisfaction.

Satisfactory pain relief was achieved in 98 patients (94%) with significant pain relief in 87 patients (83.6 %) and good in 12 patients (11.5 %). Ninety -six patients (92.3%) reported a satisfactory improvement in activities of daily living, with significant improvement in 89 (85.6%) and good in 7 (6.7%). Shoulder power was markedly improved in 95 patients (93%). High levels of patient satisfaction were noted in 93 patients. Seven patients were moderately satisfied and two patients were not satisfied.

The mean shoulder score improved from 29 pre-op to 82 post-op, and the shoulder function score from 32 pre-op to 84 post–op. Similar results were found when the subgroup of 65 patients over the age of sixty was compared to the group of 37 patients under the age of sixty. No difference in outcome was also noted in relation to the size of the tear, length of follow –up or sex of the patient.

We believe that this study has shown that the arthroscopic repair of the rotator cuff can consistently achieve a satisfactory outcome. It may therefore be considered as an alternative to the traditional open techniques.