Rotator cuff tears after 70years of age: A prospective, randomized, comparative study between decompression and arthroscopic repair in 154 patients

• Published in: Orthopaedics & traumatology, surgery & research surgery & research, 2013-12, Vol.99 (8), p.S371-S378
• Main Authors: Flurin, P.-H., Hardy, P., Abadie, P., Desmoineaux, P., Essig, J., Joudet, T., Sommaire, C., Thelu, C.-E.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Arthroscopy; Full-thickness tear; Rotator cuff
• ISSN: 1877-0568; 1877-0568
• DOI: 10.1016/j.otsr.2013.10.005

Arthroscopic repair of rotator cuff tears leads to better clinical outcomes than subacromial decompression alone; however the former is rarely proposed to patients above 70years of age. Our hypothesis was that arthroscopic repair would be superior to decompression in patient 70years or older. The primary goal was to compare the clinical results obtained with each technique. The secondary goal was to analyze the effects of age, tendon retraction and fatty infiltration on the outcome. This was a prospective, comparative, randomized, multicenter study where 154 patients were included who were at least 70years of age. Of the included patients, 143 (70 repair and 73 decompression) were seen at one-year follow-up; these patients had an average age of 74.6years. Shoulders had a complete supraspinatus tear with extension limited to the upper-third of the infraspinatus and Patte stage 1 or 2 retraction. Clinical outcomes were evaluated with the Constant, ASES and SST scores. All scores improved significantly with both techniques: Constant +33.81 (P