Strength, ROM, and ultrasound-detected healing rate after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair: Traumatic vs. degenerative tears

• Published in: Obere extremität 2016-12, Vol.11 (4), p.268-273
• Main Authors: Friese, Gina-Lisa, Porschke, Felix, Magosch, Petra, Lichtenberg, Sven, Loew, Markus
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Original Contribution; Orthopedics; Surgical Orthopedics
• ISSN: 1862-6599; 1862-6602
• DOI: 10.1007/s11678-016-0375-z

Background The aim of this study was to investigate whether the etiology of a rotator cuff tear (RCT) influences structural tendon healing and clinical outcome after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair (RCR). The hypothesis was that there is a difference between patients with a sudden onset of symptoms following a traumatic event and those with degenerative lesions. Methods Out of a group of 50 patients enrolled in a previously published prospective investigation, 48 underwent arthroscopic RCR. The acute trauma group (tGA) consisted of 25 patients diagnosed with RCT immediately after trauma, while the chronic degenerative group (dGB) comprised 23 individuals without trauma. After at least 17 months (mean: 27.2), 42 patients underwent clinical and ultrasound examination. Results The mean age of the patients was 57.9 years in the tGA and 61.0 years in the dGB. The overall drop-out rate was 9.3 %. Average strength was 67.4 N in the tGA and 54.75 N in the dGB. The rate of nonhealing as detected by ultrasound was 13.6 % in the tGA and 9.5 % in the dGB. Conclusion Arthroscopic RCR leads to favorable clinical and functional outcomes in both traumatic and degenerative RCT. There were no significant differences in outcome.