Aim: To determine the long-term outcome of surgery for rotator cuff disorders.

Methods: Ninety-two patients were followed up, after a minimum of nine years following rotator cuff surgery, including arthroscopic and open subacromial decompression, and repair of a rotator cuff tear. The results were assessed with the UCLA rating score. These results were compared with another group with a two-year follow-up.

Results: The follow-up periods for the 92 patients were from nine to 14 years. There were 58% of patients in the good or excellent group, 23% in the fair, and 19% in the poor. The results in cases with rotator cuff repairs were similar to those with only subacromial decompressions. The long-term results were a little worse than the results in the two-year follow-up group.

Conclusions: In some cases there was a gradual deterioration over time in shoulder symptoms following rotator cuff surgery. After 10 years, 19% had a poor result.