Operatively treated traumatic versus non-traumatic rotator cuff ruptures: a registry study

Traumatic and Atraumatic Rotator Cuff Tears Have the Same Rates of Healing

Background

To examine whether traumatic rotator cuff repairs (RCRs) differ in postoperative rotator cuff tendon integrity and functional outcomes from degenerative RCRs.

Methods

RCRs performed by a single surgeon were retrospectively identified. The inclusion criteria were repairable Goutallier grades 0 to 2 full-thickness rotator cuff tears. Demographic and clinical data as well as radiological results were compared. A multivariate logistic regression of the of patient acceptable symptom state for American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score was performed to evaluate whether the origin of tear led to a different relative risk (RR) independently from tear and surgical characteristics.

Results

A total of 616 consecutive shoulders (304 traumatic and 312 degenerative) were finally included. Traumatic ruptures presented a greater distribution of male (72% vs 51%, P < .001) and younger patients (53 vs 57 years, P < .001), as well as earlier onset of symptoms (3 vs 15 months, P < .001), reduced range of motion in preoperative assessment for forward elevation (130° vs 150°, P < .001), and slightly greater preoperative ASES (46.5 ± 19.7 vs 50.0 ± 18.0, P = .022) and Constant (47.0 ± 20.2 vs 52.0 ± 18.9, P = .001) scores. Degenerative tears presented a lower proportion of grade 3 tendon coronal retraction (11% vs 18%, P = .031). Postoperative tendon integrity at 6 months was comparable for both groups, predominantly Sugaya types 1 and 2 (91% traumatic; 92% degenerative, P = .371). Both groups exhibited favorable outcomes in range of motion and postoperative functional scores at last follow-up. The multivariate regression confirmed that the tear origin was not significantly associated with patient acceptable symptom state achievement (P = .201) but rather with greater preoperative ASES score (RR, 1.01), men (RR, 1.16) and workers' compensation (RR, 0.65) (P < .05).

Conclusions

Traumatic cases were frequent, involved younger patients, more frequently affected the anterior rotator cuff, and were associated with more severe tendon retraction. Traumatic and degenerative RCRs lead to comparable clinical and radiologic results.

Level of Evidence

Level III, retrospective comparative study.

Functional and Radiologic Outcomes of Degenerative Versus Traumatic Full-Thickness Rotator Cuff Tears Involving the Supraspinatus Tendon

BACKGROUND

Arthroscopic rotator cuff repair (ARCR) is among the most commonly performed orthopaedic procedures. Several factors-including age, sex, and tear severity-have been identified as predictors for outcome after repair. The influence of the tear etiology on functional and structural outcome remains controversial.

PURPOSE

To investigate the influence of tear etiology (degenerative vs traumatic) on functional and structural outcomes in patients with supraspinatus tendon tears.

STUDY DESIGN

Cohort study; Level of evidence, 2.

METHODS

Patients undergoing ARCR from 19 centers were prospectively enrolled between June 2020 and November 2021. Full-thickness, nonmassive tears involving the supraspinatus tendon were included. Tears were classified as degenerative (chronic shoulder pain, no history of trauma) or traumatic (acute, traumatic onset, no previous shoulder pain). Range of motion, strength, the Subjective Shoulder Value, the Oxford Shoulder Score (OSS), and the Constant-Murley Score (CMS) were assessed before (baseline) and 6 and 12 months after ARCR. The Subjective Shoulder Value and the OSS were also determined at the 24-month follow-up. Repair integrity after 12 months was documented, as well as additional surgeries up to the 24-month follow-up. Tear groups were compared using mixed models adjusted for potential confounding effects.

RESULTS

From a cohort of 973 consecutive patients, 421 patients (degenerative tear, n = 230; traumatic tear, n = 191) met the inclusion criteria. The traumatic tear group had lower mean baseline OSS and CMS scores but significantly greater score changes 12 months after ARCR (OSS, 18 [SD, 8]; CMS, 34 [SD,18] vs degenerative: OSS, 15 [SD, 8]; CMS, 22 [SD, 15]) (P < .001) and significantly higher 12-month overall scores (OSS, 44 [SD, 5]; CMS, 79 [SD, 9] vs degenerative: OSS, 42 [SD, 7]; CMS, 76 [SD, 12]) (P≤ .006). At the 24-month follow-up, neither the OSS (degenerative, 44 [SD, 6]; traumatic, 45 [SD, 6]; P = .346) nor the rates of repair failure (degenerative, 14 [6.1%]; traumatic 12 [6.3%]; P = .934) and additional surgeries (7 [3%]; 7 [3.7%]; P = .723) differed between groups.

CONCLUSION

Patients with degenerative and traumatic full-thickness supraspinatus tendon tears who had ARCR show satisfactory short-term functional results. Although patients with traumatic tears have lower baseline functional scores, they rehabilitate over time and show comparable clinical results 1 year after ARCR. Similarly, degenerative and traumatic rotator cuff tears show comparable structural outcomes, which suggests that degenerated tendons retain healing potential.

Online Videos Regarding Relevant Postoperative Patient Information and Postoperative Rehabilitation After Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair Provide Poor Information Quality, Accuracy, and Reliability

PURPOSE

To evaluate the information quality, accuracy, and reliability of YouTube videos regarding relevant postoperative patient information and postoperative rehabilitation after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair.

METHODS

By use of The Onion Router (TOR) software and predefined search terms, 102 videos were assessed. Four scoring systems were used to evaluate included videos: (1) Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) benchmark criteria score; (2) Global Quality Score (GQS); (3) DISCERN score; and (4) a newly developed score, the Rotator Cuff Score (RCS). The RCS (0-30 points) was built based on the latest published evidence and guidelines from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Videos that scored up to 9 points were regarded as poor-quality videos.

RESULTS

Most of the included videos provided poor information quality, accuracy, and reliability. Videos that were uploaded by medically trained professionals showed significantly better results for all scores compared with commercial or personal-testimony videos (JAMA benchmark criteria score, P < .001; GQS, P < .001; DISCERN score, P = .001; and RCS, P = .001). Multivariate linear regression showed that the involvement of medically trained professionals was a significant predictor of better results for all scores (JAMA benchmark criteria score, β = 1.496 [P < .001]; GQS, β = 1.105 [P < .001]; DISCERN score, β = 11.234 [P < .001]; and RCS, β = 5.017 [P < .001]). Surprisingly, the like ratio was significantly higher for videos that were uploaded by non-medically trained individuals (P = .041).

CONCLUSIONS

The average information quality, accuracy, and reliability of YouTube videos regarding relevant postoperative patient information and postoperative rehabilitation after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair are poor. Videos from medically trained professionals provide significantly higher information quality; however, even these videos lack important information for a better understanding of arthroscopic rotator cuff repair.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Because of the lack of a peer-review process, available videos on YouTube regarding relevant postoperative patient information and postoperative rehabilitation after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair are of low quality, accuracy, and reliability. However, patients increasingly visit YouTube to gather medical knowledge. Physicians should enlighten patients about these findings and should be able to provide alternative sources of high-quality information.

Dry needling in a multimodal rehabilitation protocol following rotator cuff repair surgery: study protocol for a double-blinded randomized sham-controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Rotator cuff tear (RCT) is one of the main causes of shoulder pain and dysfunction. Rotator cuff repair (RCR) is a common surgical procedure for the management of RCTs. Presence of myofascial trigger points (MTrP) as a result of surgical procedure can aggravate postoperative shoulder pain. The purpose of this protocol is to describe a randomized controlled trial design to evaluate the effect of implementing 4 sessions of myofascial trigger point dry needling (MTrP-DN) within a multimodal rehabilitation protocol following RCR surgery.

METHODS

Forty-six participants aged 40-75 will be recruited having postoperative shoulder pain after RCR and meeting the inclusion criteria. Participants will be randomly divided into 2 groups: One group will undergo MTrP-DN, manual therapy, exercise therapy and electrotherapy and the other will receive sham dry needling (S-DN), manual therapy, exercise therapy and electrotherapy. This protocol will cover 4 weeks of intervention. The primary outcome measure will be the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) for pain. Secondary outcome measures will be Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPDI), range of motion (ROM), strength and adverse events.

DISCUSSION

This is the first study to investigate the use of 4 sessions of MTrP-DN in combination with a multimodal rehabilitation protocol for postoperative shoulder pain, restriction, weakness and dysfunction following RCR. The results of this study may help to determine the effect of MTrP-DN on various outcomes after RCR surgery.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

This trial was registered at the ( https://www.irct.ir ), (IRCT20211005052677N1) on 19/2/2022.

CEUS-assessed supraspinatus muscle perfusion improves after tendon repair and predicts anatomical and functional outcome: A 1-year prospective pilot study

Rotator cuff tear including SSP (Supraspinatus) tendon tears are a very common and often painful condition with several therapeutic options such as tendon repair. Reflected by the high retear rates, the preoperative selection of patients suitable for surgery or conservative treatment, which often yields comparable results, remains difficult. Using contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS), it is possible to quantify the SSP muscle perfusion as a surrogate parameter for its vitality and healing capabilities. In this study, we enrolled 20 patients who underwent an SSP repair for a preoperative and two postoperative (6 months and 1 year) clinical and sonographic exams including CEUS. Along with functional improvement (p < 0.001, Constant score), we found a significant increase in CEUS-assessed muscle perfusion after tendon repair (p < 0.001). Furthermore, weak preoperative muscle perfusion was associated with a higher risk of a retear (χ²  = 0.045) and a moderate trend toward lower postoperative shoulder function that did not reach significance (r = 0.435; p = 0.055, DASH score). If confirmed in larger studies, CEUS might be a valuable additional diagnostic method for a precise selection of patients who most likely profit from a tendon repair and those who can be treated conservatively with an equally good outcome.

"Functional outcomes and MRI-based tendon healing after (antero-) superior rotator cuff repair among patients under 50 years: retrospective analysis of traumatic versus non-traumatic rotator cuff tears"

BACKGROUND

Rotator cuff tears among patients under 50 years either result from an adequate trauma or are considered non-traumatic due to work-related or athletic overuse. The impact of these different mechanisms on postoperative functional outcomes and tendon healing has not yet been fully understood. Therefore, it was the purpose of this study to investigate the influence of etiology of (antero-)superior rotator cuff tears on postoperative outcomes and the healing rates after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair in a young patient population.

METHODS

Patients under 50 years who underwent arthroscopic rotator cuff repair between 2006-2017 for an anterosuperior rotator cuff tear with a minimum follow up of 24 months were included in this study. Revision surgeries or reconstructive concomitant procedures other than long head of the biceps tenodesis were excluded. Patients were divided into two groups according to the etiology of their rotator cuff tear (traumatic vs. non-traumatic). Demographic and outcome scores including the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score, the Constant Score (CS), bilateral strength measurements and postoperative tendon integrity evaluated on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were assessed and compared between both groups.

RESULTS

The mean follow up for this study was 55.6 months (24 - 158). Twenty-one patients (50.0%) had a traumatic RCT and 21 patients (50.0%) had a non-traumatic tear. Outcome scores did not differ significantly between groups. Strength measurements of the supraspinatus revealed significantly decreased force of the affected side as opposed to the contralateral side (p = 0.001), regardless of etiology. Retear rates were similar in both groups (37.5% and 33.3%, p = n.s.). Cuff integrity at follow-up was not predictive of superior scores or strength.

CONCLUSION

Surgical treatment of traumatic and non-traumatic RCT yields good clinical results in patients under the age of 50. The etiology of the rotator cuff tear did not significantly affect postoperative outcomes or healing rates. About one third of the patients suffered from a retear postoperatively, however retears were not predictive of inferior outcomes at midterm follow-up.

STUDY DESIGN

Level III.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Retrospectively registered.

Ethnicity, sex, and socioeconomic disparities in the treatment of traumatic rotator cuff injuries in Aotearoa/New Zealand

HYPOTHESIS AND BACKGROUND

Traumatic rotator cuff injuries can be a leading cause of prolonged shoulder pain and disability and contribute to significant morbidity and health care costs. Previous studies have shown evidence of sociodemographic disparities with these injuries. The purpose of this nationwide study was to better understand these disparities based on ethnicity, sex, and socioeconomic status, in order to inform future health care strategies.

METHODS

Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) is a no-fault comprehensive compensation scheme encompassing all of Aotearoa/New Zealand (population in 2018, 4.7 million). Using the ACC database, traumatic rotator cuff injuries were identified between January 2010 and December 2018. Injuries were categorized by sex, ethnicity, age, and socioeconomic deprivation index of the claimant.

RESULTS

During the 9-year study period, there were 351,554 claims accepted for traumatic rotator cuff injury, which totaled more than NZ$960 million. The greatest proportion of costs was spent on vocational support (49.8%), then surgery (26.3%), rehabilitation (13.1%), radiology (8.1%), general practitioner (1.6%), and "Other" (1.1%). Asian, Māori (indigenous New Zealanders), and Pacific peoples were under-represented in the age-standardized proportion of total claims and had lower rates of surgery than Europeans. Māori had higher proportion of costs spent on vocational support and lower proportions spent on radiology, rehabilitation, and surgery than Europeans. Males had higher number and costs of claims and were more likely to have surgery than females. There were considerably fewer claims from areas of high socioeconomic deprivation.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

This large nationwide study demonstrates the important and growing economic burden of rotator cuff injuries. Indirect costs, such as vocational supports, are a major contributor to the cost, suggesting improving treatment and rehabilitation protocols would have the greatest economic impact. This study has also identified sociodemographic disparities that need to be addressed in order to achieve equity in health outcomes.

Comparison of Functional Outcomes After Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair Between Patients With Traumatic and Atraumatic Tears

Background:

The role of tear etiology in outcomes after rotator cuff repair is not well understood.

Purpose/Hypothesis:

The purpose of this study was to determine the difference in outcomes after rotator cuff repair based on tear etiology. We hypothesized that traumatic rotator cuff tears will have greater improvements in functional outcome measures and range of motion (ROM) than atraumatic tears.

Study Design:

Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods:

We conducted a chart review of 221 consecutive patients who underwent arthroscopic rotator cuff repair; prospectively collected preoperative and minimum 2-year postoperative data were evaluated. Shoulder ROM, strength, and standard shoulder physical examination findings were recorded pre- and postoperatively. Outcome measures included visual analog scale for pain, Subjective Shoulder Value (SSV), 10-item Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS-10; physical and mental components), and American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) form.

Results:

Of the 221 patients, 73 had traumatic tears and 148 had atraumatic/degenerative tears. There were no differences in age, body mass index, or Charlson Comorbidity Index between groups. Patients in the atraumatic cohort had significantly longer duration of symptoms before presentation (18 vs 7 months; P < .01). Preoperatively, the traumatic cohort had less motion to forward flexion (mean ± SD; 138° ± 43.7° vs 152° ± 29.8°; P = .02). Postoperatively, both groups experienced significant improvements in visual analog scale and SSV scores (P < .001 each). However, only the traumatic cohort demonstrated improvements in ASES and PROMIS-10 physical component scores. Patients with traumatic rotator cuff tears had lower preoperative SSV and less motion than those with atraumatic tears, but they had greater improvements in SSV (40.6% ± 39.0% vs 29.2% ± 39.7%; P = .005) and forward flexion (21.6° ± 48.6° vs 2.3° ± 48.2°; P < .001), as well as strength in forward flexion, external rotation, and internal rotation (P < .001, P = .003, and P = .002, respectively).

Conclusion:

Patients with traumatic rotator cuff tears have worse preoperative symptoms and more functional deficits but experience greater improvements in ROM, strength, and perceived shoulder function than those with degenerative/atraumatic tears.

Does early repair of traumatic rotator cuff tears provide better outcomes? A systematic review

Our aim was to systematically review literature of trauma related rotator cuff tears in order to evaluate the outcome and healing integrity in relation to time of surgery. Our research question was whether earlier surgical repair leads to superior functional results. This review was conducted according to PRISMA statement. A literature search of Pubmed, Embase, Cohrane was conducted, with two researchers assessing studies for eligibility and quality. A total of 20 studies, published between 1980 and 2019, met the inclusion criteria and were divided into two groups based on duration of symptoms before surgery. Group A comprised of studies in which duration was < 3 months and Group B > 3 months. Within each group there was a statistically significant improvement in the CS from pre-operative to post-operative outcome, but the improvement for Group A was statistically higher in comparison to Group B (P=0.01). Nevertheless, there was no significant difference in the final outcome for the two groups (P=0.29). The re-tear rate per 100 patients was calculated 28.5(±7.2) for Group A, and 17.2 (±12.56) for Group B (P=0.056). Our results suggest that functional outcome and tendon healing may not be valid arguments for early surgical repair. Therefore, repair of traumatic RCTs could be recommended whenever technically possible.

Comparison of tear characteristics, outcome parameters and healing in traumatic and non-traumatic rotator cuff tear: a prospective cohort study

PURPOSE

Acute traumatic and chronic non-traumatic rotator cuff tears are etiologically distinguishable entities. However, prospective studies comparing tear characteristics and outcomes between these two types of tears are lacking. The purpose of this study was to compare the tear characteristics, clinical and functional outcomes, and tendon healing as assessed on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), between traumatic and non-traumatic rotator cuff tears.

METHODS

MRI proven rotator cuff tears were allocated into two groups according to the history of injury: Group 1 included 28 patients with traumatic tears and group 2 included 33 patients of non-traumatic cuff tears. Both the groups were compared for preoperative tear characteristics (tear size, muscle atrophy, fatty degeneration), range of motion, strength of shoulder abduction and external rotation, functional outcomes, and tendon integrity on MRI, 2 years after the surgery.

RESULTS

Postoperative mean active range of abduction (p = 0.005), abduction strength (p = 0.013), external rotation strength (p = 0.027), University of California at Los Angeles score (p < 0.001), Constant score (p = 0.002), American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons scores (p = 0.028) and visual analog scale for pain (p = 0.02) were significantly better in group 1 as compared to group 2. The postoperative structural integrity of the cuff on MRI was better in group 1 as compared to group 2, but the values did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.13).

CONCLUSION

Findings from this study suggest that traumatic tears affect younger patients and while having a larger tear size, they have lesser muscle atrophy, fatty degeneration, and tendon retraction. Functional outcomes are better after treatment of traumatic tears as compared to non-traumatic tears. Chronicity of the tear and tendon retraction negatively affected healing in traumatic cuff tears. Muscle atrophy was found to be associated with poorer healing in non-traumatic tears. However, tear size was not associated with healing.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

II, Prospective cohort study.

Can a simple fall cause a rotator cuff tear? Literature review and biomechanical considerations

Purpose

A simple fall on the shoulder is often referred to as minor trauma that cannot cause a tendon tear but at best reveal a pre-existing rotator cuff pathology. We wanted to know whether this statement was true. The purpose of our study was therefore to summarize the causes of acute rotator cuff tears reported in the literature and provide a biomechanical explanation for tendon tears diagnosed after a fall.

Method

We searched PubMed and included studies reporting rotator cuff tears occurring due to a trauma. The number of cases, the tendons involved, the age of the patients, and the nature of trauma were summarized. In addition, we noted any information provided by the authors on the pathogenesis of acute tendon ruptures.

Results

Sixty-seven articles with a total of 4061 traumatic rotator cuff tears met the inclusion criteria. A simple fall was the most common cause (725 cases) and the supraspinatus tendon was most frequently affected. The postulated pathomechanism is a sudden stretch of the tendon-muscle unit while contracting (eccentric loading).

Conclusion

A simple fall can cause an acute rotator cuff tear and fall-related tears are not restricted to young individuals. They can affect patients of any age. The stresses occurring within the rotator cuff during an attempt to cushion a fall may locally exceed the tensile strength of the tendon fibers and cause a partial or full-thickness tear.

Effects of 12 Weeks of Progressive Early Active Exercise Therapy After Surgical Rotator Cuff Repair: 12 Weeks and 1-Year Results From the CUT-N-MOVE Randomized Controlled Trial

BACKGROUND

Traumatic full-thickness rotator cuff tears are typically managed surgically, followed by rehabilitation, but the load progression to reach an optimal clinical outcome during postoperative rehabilitation is unknown.

PURPOSE

To evaluate whether there was a superior effect of 12 weeks of progressive active exercise therapy on shoulder function, pain, and quality of life compared with usual care.

STUDY DESIGN

Randomized controlled trial; Level of evidence, 1.

METHODS

Patients with surgically repaired traumatic full-thickness rotator cuff tears were recruited from 2 orthopaedic departments and randomized to progressive active exercise therapy (PR) or limited passive exercise therapy (UC [usual care]). The primary outcome was the change in the Western Ontario Rotator Cuff Index (WORC) score between groups from before surgery to 12 weeks after surgery. Secondary outcomes included changes in the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) questionnaire score, pain, range of motion, and strength. Adverse events were registered during the intervention period.

RESULTS

A total of 82 patients were randomized to the PR (n = 41) or UC (n = 41) group. All 82 patients (100%) participated in the 12-week assessment and 79 in the 1-year follow-up. At 12 weeks, there was no significant difference between the groups in the change in the WORC score from baseline adjusted for age, sex, and center (physical symptoms: P = .834; sports and recreation: P = .723; work: P = .541; lifestyle: P = .508; emotions: P = .568). Additionally, there was no between-group difference for the secondary outcomes including the WORC score at 1 year and the DASH score, pain, range of motion, and strength at 12 weeks and 1 year. Both groups showed significant improvements over time in all outcomes. In total, there were 13 retears (16%) at 1-year follow-up: 6 in the PR group and 7 in the UC group.

CONCLUSION

PR did not result in superior patient-reported and objective outcomes compared with UC at either short- or long-term follow-up (12 weeks and 1 year).

REGISTRATION

NCT02969135 (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier).

Definition of the terms "acute" and "traumatic" in rotator cuff injuries: a systematic review and call for standardization in nomenclature

BACKGROUND

Although of high relevance for clinical decision making, there exists no consensus throughout the literature of the terms "acute" and "traumatic" used in the classification of rotator cuff tears. With differing definitions, the comparability of outcome studies may be limited. The aim was to provide a detailed systematic review of the definitions used in the literature and present a suggestion for a standardization in nomenclature based on the findings.

METHODS

Four different internet databases were searched in February 2020 using the terms ("acute" OR "traumatic" OR "trauma" OR "athlete" OR "young") AND ("rotator cuff tears" OR "rotator cuff tear" OR "rotator cuff" OR "rotator cuff rupture" OR "supraspinatus" OR "infraspinatus" OR "subscapularis" OR "teres minor"). Prospective, retrospective, cohort and case-control studies as well as case series were included. Systematic reviews, cadaveric or laboratory studies and studies on non-traumatic or non-acute rotator cuff tears were excluded.

RESULTS

The literature search conducted 10,349 articles of which 10,151 were excluded based on the title, 119 based on the abstract and 33 based on the manuscript. A total of 46 studies were finally included for review and subsequently analyzed. Overall, there exists no consensus neither on the term "acute" nor on "traumatic" in the context of rotator cuff tears in the literature. The time span for acute injuries ranged between 2 weeks and 6 months. For traumatic injuries, only 20% of the selected studies described a specific and adequate injury mechanism in combination with adequate imaging.

CONCLUSION

The term "acute" should be reserved for RCT showing muscle edema, wavelike appearance of the central part of the torn tendon and joint effusion, which typically requires adequate imaging within 2 weeks from trauma. Repair of acute tears should occur within 8 weeks from trauma to benefit from possibly superior biological healing capacities. The term "traumatic" should be used for a sudden onset of symptoms in a previously asymptomatic patient, triggered by an adequate trauma, e.g., a fall on the retroverted arm with an axial cranioventral force or a traumatic shoulder dislocation.

Effectiveness of supervised physiotherapy after arthroscopic rotator cuff reconstruction: a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

The benefit of supervised physiotherapy after rotator cuff surgery is unclear. The aim of this randomized controlled trial was to assess the effectiveness of supervised physiotherapy after arthroscopic rotator cuff reconstruction.

METHODS

Eighty patients with full-thickness supraspinatus tendon tears were randomly assigned to either supervised physiotherapy or home exercises only. The primary outcome measure was the Constant score at 12 months after surgery.

RESULTS

A total of 70 patients were available for analyses at 1-year follow-up. There were no statistically significant differences in the primary outcome between the treatment groups.

CONCLUSION

Supervised physiotherapy after arthroscopic rotator cuff reconstruction does not provide additional benefit compared with home exercises alone at 1-year follow-up.

Clinical and structural outcome 20 years after repair of massive rotator cuff tears

BACKGROUND

Short- and mid-term outcomes after massive cuff tear repair are well reported, but there is no documentation of the clinical and structural outcomes at 20 years of follow-up. The hypothesis of the present study was that at 20 years, deterioration of the shoulder would have occurred and led to a substantial number of reoperations.

METHODS

The authors retrospectively recalled all 127 patients operated for massive rotator cuff tears in 1994 at 6 different centers. At the 20-year follow-up, 26 patients died and 35 were lost to follow-up. Thirteen (10.2%) had been reoperated. This left 53 patients for personal clinical assessment. Forty-nine consented to standardized radiographic evaluation for assessment of osteoarthritis, 36 patients underwent magnetic resonance imaging, allowing assessment of tendon healing, atrophy, and fatty infiltration (FI) of the cuff muscles.

RESULTS

The final Constant-Murley score (CS) was 68 ± 17.7 (range, 8-91) vs. 44 ± 15.3 (range, 13-74) preoperatively (P < .05). The final Subjective Shoulder Value (SSV) was 73% ± 23% (range, 0-100). Retears (Sugaya IV and V) were found in 17 cases (47%). Nine patients (17%) had cuff tear arthropathy (Hamada stage 4). The CS and SSV for the shoulders with FI stages III or IV were significantly inferior (53 ± 19 points and 65% ± 14% respectively) than for those with FI stages 0-II (respectively, 71.6 ± 6 points and 73% ± 4%) (P < .05).

CONCLUSIONS

Twenty years after surgical repair of massive rotator cuff tears, the functional scores remain satisfactory, and the rate of revision is low.

Acute Cuff Tear Repair Trial (ACCURATE): protocol for a multicentre, randomised, placebo-controlled trial on the efficacy of arthroscopic rotator cuff repair

INTRODUCTION

Rotator cuff tear is a very common and disabling condition that can be related to acute trauma. Rotator cuff tear surgery is a well-established form of treatment in acute rotator cuff tears. Despite its widespread use and almost a gold standard position, the efficacy of an arthroscopic rotator cuff repair is still unknown. The objective of this trial is to investigate the difference in outcome between arthroscopic rotator cuff repair and inspection of the shoulder joint defined as placebo surgery in patients 45-70 years of age with an acute rotator tear related to trauma.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

Acute Cuff Tear Repair Trial (ACCURATE) is a randomised, placebo-controlled, multicentre efficacy trial with sample size of 180 patients. Concealed allocation is done in 1:1 ratio. The randomisation is stratified according to participating hospital, gender and baseline Western Ontario Rotator Cuff Index (WORC). Both groups receive the same standardised postoperative treatment and physiotherapy. The primary outcome measure is the change in WORC score from baseline to 2-year follow-up. Secondary outcome measures include Constant-Murley Score, the Numerical Rating Scale for pain, subjective patient satisfaction and the health-related quality of life instrument 15 dimensions (15D). Patients and outcome assessors are blinded from the allocated intervention. The primary analysis of results will be conducted according to intention-to-treat analysis.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

The study protocol for this clinical trial has been approved by the Ethics Committee of the Hospital District of Southwest Finland and Regional Ethics Committee in Linköping Sweden and Regional Committees for Medical and Health Research Ethics South East in Norway. Every recruiting centre will apply local research approvals. The results of this study will be submitted for publication in peer-reviewed journals.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT02885714; Pre-results.

Evaluating strategies and outcomes following rotator cuff tears

INTRODUCTION

Rotator cuff tear surgical repair techniques have significantly progressed. However, tendon retear following primary repair persistently occurs at high rates. Rehabilitation protocols, surgical fixation techniques, biologic therapy with scaffolds, platelet-rich plasma, and even stem cell applications are under study to promote adequate tendon healing.

METHODS

A nonsystematic query of the PubMed database was conducted in July 2016 utilizing the search terms "rotator cuff repair," "tear," "rehabilitation," "scaffold," "platelet-rich plasma," and "stem cell" to identify, analyze, and summarize relevant studies.

CONCLUSION

Individualized rehabilitation protocols may be the best approach for small to medium sized tears. Surgical fixation will continue to be debated as modifications to single-row technique and increases in suture number have improved tensile strength. Double-row repairs have been associated with higher costs. Transosseous equivalent technique exhibits comparable subjective and objective outcomes to single- and double-row repair at two-year follow-up. Biocompatible scaffold augmentation has showed inconsistent short-term results. Platelet-rich plasma has lacked uniformity in treatment preparation, administration, and outcome measurement with mixed results. Few human studies have suggested decreased retear rates and improved repair maintenance following bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cell augmentation. This review reiterated the necessity of additional high-quality, large-sample studies to develop any final verdict regarding efficacy.

Clinical and structural outcome twenty years after repair of isolated supraspinatus tendon tears

BACKGROUND

This study evaluated the clinical and structural outcome 20 years after repair of isolated supraspinatus tendon tears. We hypothesized that the results would deteriorate over time.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

For this retrospective multicenter study, 137 patients were recalled for a clinical and imaging assessment. Six patients (4.3%) had died from unrelated causes, 52 (38.0%) were lost to follow-up, and 13 (9.5%) had undergone reoperations. This left 66 patients for clinical evaluation. Radiographs and magnetic resonance imaging were additionally performed for 45 patients, allowing assessment of osteoarthritis, tendon healing, fatty infiltration (FI), and muscle atrophy.

RESULTS

The Constant Score (CS) improved from 51.5 ± 14.1 points preoperatively to 71 points (P < .05) with a mean Subjective Shoulder Value (SSV) of 77.2% ± 22%. Tendon discontinuity (Sugaya IV-V) was present in 19 of 45 patients (42 %), and there was advanced FI (Goutallier III-IV) of the supraspinatus in 12 (27%) and of the infraspinatus muscle in 16 (35%). Supraspinatus atrophy was present in 12 patients (28%), advanced arthritis in 6, and cuff tear arthropathy in 12 (30%). The CS and SSV were significantly inferior for shoulders with FI of stages III to IV (P < .05). The CS was lower in cuff tear arthropathy and correlated with infraspinatus FI.

CONCLUSIONS

At 20 years after surgical repair of isolated supraspinatus tears, the clinical outcome remains significantly above the preoperative state. FI of the infraspinatus is the most influential factor on long-term clinical outcome.

Prognostic Factors for Functional Outcome After Rotator Cuff Repair: A Prospective Cohort Study With 2-Year Follow-up

BACKGROUND

Although shoulder function is reported to be generally good after rotator cuff repair, limited knowledge exists regarding which prognostic factors predict functional outcomes.

PURPOSE

To identify pre- and perioperative predictors of functional outcomes after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair.

STUDY DESIGN

Case-control study; Level of evidence, 3.

METHODS

A cohort of 733 consecutive patients treated with rotator cuff repair between 2010 and 2014 in a single orthopaedics unit was included. Data were collected prospectively and included pre- and perioperative variables. Univariate and multivariable linear regression analyses were used to predict shoulder function at 2-year follow-up, as measured by the Western Ontario Rotator Cuff Index (WORC).

RESULTS

In total, 647 (88%) patients were followed for 25 ± 5 months (mean ± SD; range, 17-66 months). In the multivariable regression model, the adjusted R² was 0.360, indicating that 36% of the variation in the WORC at final follow-up could be explained by this statistical model. The multivariable linear regression analysis revealed that the strongest positive independent predictors of shoulder function at 2 years were preoperative WORC and Constant-Murley score in the contralateral shoulder. The model also indicated that activities of daily living, age, subacromial decompression, and biceps surgery had independent positive associations with better shoulder function at 2 years. In addition, previous surgery in the ipsilateral or contralateral shoulder, smoking, partial rotator cuff repair, preoperative pain, and atrophy in the infraspinatus were all independent factors negatively associated with shoulder function after 2 years. The overall healing rate of complete repairs per magnetic resonance imaging was 80%.

CONCLUSION

The most important finding of the present study was that the strongest prognostic factors for better WORC at 2-year follow-up were better preoperative WORC and Constant-Murley score in the contralateral shoulder. Although not all the prognostic factors identified in this study are modifiable, they can still be useful for guiding patients in shared decision making with the surgeon. This cohort study shows that if selection of patients is performed properly, it is possible to obtain a successful outcome.

Clinical and MRI Outcomes 10 Years After Repair of Massive Posterosuperior Rotator Cuff Tears

BACKGROUND

Massive rotator cuff tears are challenging to treat, with few or no studies on long-term outcomes of repair. The purpose of this study was to report 10-year outcomes following repair of massive posterosuperior rotator cuff tears, with and without extension into the subscapularis, and to determine prognostic factors that could influence clinical scores and retear rates.

METHODS

The records of 234 patients who underwent repair of a massive posterosuperior rotator cuff tear at a total of 15 centers were retrieved. Patients were asked to return for evaluation at 10 years; 78 patients could not be contacted, 7 had died, and 19 had undergone a reoperation. A total of 130 patients (68% men) with a mean age (and standard deviation) of 56.1 ± 7.7 years (range, 26 to 79 years) were evaluated clinically, and 102 of them were also evaluated using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The tear was confined to the supraspinatus and infraspinatus tendons in 94 shoulders and also involved the superior portion of the subscapularis in 36 shoulders. Univariable and multivariable regressions were performed to determine whether 10-year total Constant-Murley scores and repair integrity were associated with patient characteristics, tear patterns, or repair techniques.

RESULTS

In the study cohort, complications were noted in 14 shoulders (11%) (stiffness in 10 and infection in 4). For the 130 shoulders evaluated clinically, the mean total Constant-Murley score improved from 53.1 ± 15.9 (range, 14 to 83) preoperatively to 78.5 ± 11.3 (range, 36 to 98) at 10 years. Of the 102 shoulders evaluated using MRI, 32 had a retear (Sugaya type IV or V). Of the 19 shoulders that underwent a reoperation (excluded from the study cohort), 9 had a retear. The overall prevalence of retears was 34%. Multivariable regression analysis revealed a significant association between the 10-year Constant-Murley score and preoperative retraction of the infraspinatus tendon, but no association between retears and any of the variables. Involvement of the subscapularis had no significant effect on preoperative or postoperative Constant-Murley scores or retear rates.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients who had repair of a massive posterosuperior rotator cuff tear maintained considerable improvements in clinical and radiographic outcomes at 10 years. Partial concomitant tears of the subscapularis did not affect the total postoperative Constant-Murley scores or retear rates.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Progressive early passive and active exercise therapy after surgical rotator cuff repair - study protocol for a randomized controlled trial (the CUT-N-MOVE trial)

Background

Rotator cuff tear is a common cause of shoulder disability and results in patients predominantly complaining of pain and loss of motion and strength. Traumatic rotator cuff tears are typically managed surgically followed by ~ 20 weeks of rehabilitation. However, the timing and intensity of the postoperative rehabilitation strategy required to reach an optimal clinical outcome is unknown. Early controlled and gradually increased tendon loading has been suggested to positively influence tendon healing and recovery. The aim of this trial is therefore to examine the effect of a progressive rehabilitation strategy on pain, physical function and quality of life compared to usual care (that limits tendon loading in the early postoperative phase) in patients who have a rotator cuff repair of a traumatic tear.

Methods

The current study is a randomized, controlled, outcome-assessor blinded, multicenter, superiority trial with a two-group paralleled design. A total of 100 patients with surgically repaired traumatic rotator cuff tears will be recruited from up to three orthopedic departments in Denmark, and randomized to either a progressive early passive and active movement program or a limited early passive movement program (usual care). The primary outcome measure will be the change from pre-surgery to 12 weeks post-surgery in the Western Ontario Rotator Cuff Index questionnaire. Secondary outcomes include the Disabilities Arm, Shoulder and Hand questionnaire (DASH), range of motion, strength and tendon healing characteristics from ultrasound measurements at 12 months follow up.

Discussion

We hypothesized that patients who receive the progressive rehabilitation strategy will benefit more with respect to pain reduction, physical function and quality of life than those who receive care as usual. If this is confirmed our study can be used clinically to enhance the recovery of patients with traumatic rotator cuff tear.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02969135. Registered on 15 November 2016.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s13063-018-2839-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Ten-Year Multicenter Clinical and MRI Evaluation of Isolated Supraspinatus Repairs

BACKGROUND

Early repair of isolated supraspinatus tears could prevent further deterioration of the rotator cuff; however, there is no consensus on the management of such tears because of a lack of long-term outcome studies. The purposes of this study were to report the 10-year outcomes of isolated supraspinatus repairs and to investigate the factors that favor healing and recovery.

METHODS

We retrieved the records of all 511 patients who, in 2003, underwent repair of full-thickness isolated supraspinatus tears, performed by 15 surgeons at 15 centers. In 2014, the patients were asked to return for evaluation at a minimum follow-up of 10 years. One hundred and eighty-eight patients could not be reached, and 35 were excluded because they had a reoperation (17 had a retear, 7 had conversion to an arthroplasty, and 11 had other causes). A total of 288 patients (50% were men) who had a mean age (and standard deviation) at index surgery of 56.5 ± 8.3 years (range, 32 to 77 years) were evaluated clinically, and 210 of them were also evaluated using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

RESULTS

Thirty shoulders (10.4%) had complications, including stiffness (20 shoulders), infection (1 shoulder), and other complications (9 shoulders). The total Constant score improved from a mean of 51.8 ± 13.6 points (range, 19 to 87 points) preoperatively to 77.7 ± 12.1 points (range, 37 to 100 points) at 10 years. At the 10-year follow-up evaluation, the mean Subjective Shoulder Value (SSV) was 84.9 ± 14.8 (range, 20 to 100), and the mean Simple Shoulder Test (SST) was 10.1 ± 2.2 (range, 3 to 12). Of the 210 shoulders evaluated using MRI, the repair integrity was Sugaya type I in 26 shoulders (12%), type II in 85 (41%), type III in 59 (28%), type IV in 27 (13%), and type V in 13 (6%). The total Constant score at the final follow-up was significantly associated with tendon healing (p < 0.005) and was inversely associated with preoperative fatty infiltration (p < 0.001). Neither the surgical approach nor the preoperative retraction influenced the outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

Repairs of isolated supraspinatus tears maintained considerable improvement in clinical and radiographic outcomes at 10 years. Preoperative fatty infiltration and postoperative retear have a significantly detrimental effect on the long-term functional outcome of rotator cuff repair.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Gender, ethnicity and smoking affect pain and function in patients with rotator cuff tears

BACKGROUND

This study is a collation of baseline demographic characteristics of those presenting for rotator cuff repair in New Zealand, and exploration of associations with preoperative function and pain. Data were obtained from the New Zealand Rotator Cuff Registry; a multicentre, nationwide prospective cohort of rotator cuff repairs undertaken from 1 March 2009 until 31 December 2010.

METHODS

A total of 1383 patients were included in the study. This required complete demographic information, preoperative Flex-SF (functional score) and pain scores. Following univariate analysis, a multivariate model was used.

RESULTS

The average age was 58 years (69% males and 11% smokers). New Zealand Europeans made up 90% and Maori 5%. The average preoperative Flex-SF was significantly lower (poorer function) in those over 65 years, females, smokers and Maori, in the non-dominant patients, using a multivariate model. Average preoperative pain scores were significantly worse (higher scores) in females, Maori, Polynesians, smokers, using a multivariate model.

CONCLUSION

This is the largest reported prospective cohort of patients presenting for rotator cuff surgery. Results can be used to understand the effect of rotator cuff tears on the different patients, for example Maori patients who are under-represented, present younger, with more pain and poorer function.

Comparison of the epidemiology and outcomes of traumatic and nontraumatic rotator cuff tears

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to investigate the differences in the epidemiology and outcomes of traumatic and nontraumatic rotator cuff tears.

METHODS

Thirty-three patients with traumatic and 46 with nontraumatic rotator cuff tears were included.

RESULTS

The rate of injury to the long head of the biceps was significantly higher in the traumatic group. Preoperative active forward elevation was significantly lower in the traumatic group.

CONCLUSION

The outcomes of both groups were good. This may have been because milder preoperative muscle atrophy and a shorter duration of symptoms were observed in the traumatic group.

Trauma versus no trauma: an analysis of the effect of tear mechanism on tendon healing in 1300 consecutive patients after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair

BACKGROUND

Patients with rotator cuff tears often recall a specific initiating event (traumatic), whereas many cannot (nontraumatic). It is unclear how important a history of trauma is to the outcomes of rotator cuff repair.

METHODS

This question was addressed in a study cohort of 1300 consecutive patients who completed a preoperative questionnaire regarding their shoulder injury and had a systematic evaluation of shoulder range of motion and strength, a primary arthroscopic rotator cuff repair performed by a single surgeon, an ultrasound scan, and the same subjective and objective measurements made of their shoulder 6 months after surgery. Post hoc, this cohort was separated into 2 groups: those who reported no history of trauma on presentation (n = 489) and those with a history of traumatic injury (n = 811).

RESULTS

The retear rate in the group with no history of trauma was 12%, whereas that of the group with a history of trauma was 14% (P = .36). Those patients with a history of shoulder trauma who waited longer than 24 months had higher retear rates (20%) than those who had their surgery earlier (13%) (P = .040).

CONCLUSION

Recollection of a traumatic initiating event had little effect on the outcome of arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. Duration of symptoms was important in predicting retears if patients recalled a specific initiating event but not in patients who did not recall any specific initiating event. Patients with a history of trauma should be encouraged to have their rotator cuff tear repaired within 2 years.

Treatment of Nontraumatic Rotator Cuff Tears: A Randomized Controlled Trial with Two Years of Clinical and Imaging Follow-up

BACKGROUND

The optimal treatment for symptomatic, nontraumatic rotator cuff tear is unknown. The purpose of this trial was to compare the effectiveness of physiotherapy, acromioplasty, and rotator cuff repair for this condition. We hypothesized that rotator cuff repair yields superior results compared with other treatment modalities.

METHODS

One hundred and eighty shoulders with symptomatic, nontraumatic, supraspinatus tears were randomized into one of three cumulatively designed intervention groups: the physiotherapy-only group (denoted as Group 1), the acromioplasty and physiotherapy group (denoted as Group 2), and the rotator cuff repair, acromioplasty, and physiotherapy group (denoted as Group 3). The Constant score was the primary outcome measure. Secondary outcome measures were visual analog scale for pain, patient satisfaction, rotator cuff integrity in a control imaging investigation, and cost of treatment.

RESULTS

One hundred and sixty-seven shoulders (160 patients) were available for analysis at two years. There were no significant differences (p = 0.38) in the mean change of Constant score: 18.4 points (95% confidence interval, 14.2 to 22.6 points) in Group 1, 20.5 points (95% confidence interval, 16.4 to 24.6 points) in Group 2, and 22.6 points (95% confidence interval, 18.4 to 26.8 points) in Group 3. There were no significant differences in visual analog scale for pain scores (p = 0.45) and patient satisfaction (p = 0.28) between the groups. At two years, the mean sagittal size of the tendon tear was significantly smaller (p < 0.01) in Group 3 (4.2 mm) compared with Groups 1 and 2 (11.0 mm). Rotator cuff repair and acromioplasty were significantly more expensive than physiotherapy only (p < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

There was no significant difference in clinical outcome between the three interventions at the two-year follow-up. The potential progression of the rotator cuff tear, especially in the non-repaired treatment groups, warrants further follow-up. On the basis of our findings, conservative treatment is a reasonable option for the primary initial treatment for isolated, symptomatic, nontraumatic, supraspinatus tears in older patients.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Therapeutic Level I. See Instructions to Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

The effect of tear size on the treatment outcome of operatively treated rotator cuff tears

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the tear size and the short-term clinical outcome of rotator cuff reconstruction. The hypothesis was that the size of the rotator cuff tear has a direct negative correlation with post-operative clinical outcome.

METHODS

Five hundred and seventy-six consecutive shoulders with a primarily arthroscopically treated full-thickness rotator cuff tear were followed up. Rotator cuff tear size (anteroposterior dimension) was measured intraoperatively with an arthroscopic measuring probe. The Constant score was used as an outcome measure and was measured pre-operatively and 1-year post-operatively.

RESULTS

Five hundred and sixty-nine patients (99 %) were available for 1-year follow-up. The mean age of patients was 59.6 (SD 9.6) years. There were 225 (40 %) female and 344 (60 %) male patients. The mean size of the rotator cuff tear was 25 mm (SD 18). The mean pre- and post-operative Constant score was 52.3 (SD 17.4) and 74.2 (SD 15.5), respectively (p < 0.0001). The intraoperatively detected tear size correlated significantly with the pre-operative Constant score (r = -0.20, p < 0.0001). Furthermore, there was even stronger and significant correlation between the tear size and the final post-operative Constant score (r = -0.36, p < 0.0001). The correlation was similar between the genders, but the Constant scores were significantly lower in women (p < 0.0001). The lowest scores were detected in tears with infraspinatus tendon involvement.

CONCLUSIONS

The size of the rotator cuff tear linearly correlates with the Constant scores both pre- and post-operatively. The outcome of rotator cuff reconstruction is strongly related to the intraoperatively detected tear size.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Retrospective comparative register study, Level III.

Treatment of non-traumatic rotator cuff tears: A randomised controlled trial with one-year clinical results

We have compared three different methods of treating symptomatic non-traumatic tears of the supraspinatus tendon in patients above 55 years of age. A total of 180 shoulders (173 patients) with supraspinatus tendon tears were randomly allocated into one of three groups (each of 60 shoulders); physiotherapy (group 1), acromioplasty and physiotherapy (group 2) and rotator cuff repair, acromioplasty and physiotherapy (group 3). The Constant score was assessed and followed up by an independent observer pre-operatively and at three, six and twelve months after the intervention. Of these, 167 shoulders were available for assessment at one year (follow-up rate of 92.8%). There were 55 shoulders in group 1 (24 in males and 31 in females, mean age 65 years (55 to 79)), 57 in group 2 (29 male and 28 female, mean age 65 years (55 to 79)) and 55 shoulders in group 3 (26 male and 29 female, mean age 65 years (55 to 81)). There were no between-group differences in the Constant score at final follow-up: 74.1 (sd 14.2), 77.2 (sd 13.0) and 77.9 (sd 12.1) in groups 1, 2 and 3, respectively (p = 0.34). The mean change in the Constant score was 17.0, 17.5, and 19.8, respectively (p = 0.34). These results suggest that at one-year follow-up, operative treatment is no better than conservative treatment with regard to non-traumatic supraspinatus tears, and that conservative treatment should be considered as the primary method of treatment for this condition.

Investigating minimal clinically important difference for Constant score in patients undergoing rotator cuff surgery

BACKGROUND

The minimal clinically important difference (MCID) is increasingly used to evaluate treatment effectiveness. The MCID for the Constant score has not been previously reported.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A prospectively collected cohort of 802 consecutive shoulders with arthroscopically treated partial- or full-thickness rotator cuff tears was analyzed. The Constant score was measured preoperatively and at 3 months and 1 year postoperatively. At follow-up visits, the patients were asked a simple 2-stage question: Is the shoulder better or worse after the operation compared with the preoperative state? This single 2-level question was used as an indicator of patient satisfaction and as an anchor to calculate the MCID for the Constant score.

RESULTS

At 1 year, 781 (97.4%) patients (474 men, 307 women) were available for follow-up. The preoperative Constant score was 53.1 (SD 17.2) in all patients, 56.2 (SD 17.4) in male patients, and 48.2 (SD 15.6) in female patients. Postoperatively at 3 months, the scores were 61.7 (SD 16.4) in all patients, 65.1 (SD 16.1) in male patients, and 56.8 (SD 15.5) in female patients. At 1 year, the scores were 75.9 (SD 15.2) in all patients, 79.0 (SD 14.9) in male patients, and 71.0 (SD 14.3) in female patients. At 3 months postoperatively, 92.2% of male patients and 87.2% of female patients were satisfied with the outcome (P = .027); at 1 year, the satisfaction was 93.2% and 89.5%, respectively (P = .067). Five different statistical approaches yielded 5 different MCID estimates (range, 2-16). The 3-month mean change estimate of MCID was 10.4 points.

CONCLUSION

Our study demonstrates an MCID estimate of 10.4 points as the threshold for the Constant score in patients with rotator cuff tear.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Basic science study, validation of outcomes instruments/classification systems.