title: Repair of rotator cuff tears in tennis players.
abstract: Twenty-three tennis players with a symptomatic full-thickness rotator cuff tear underwent anterior acromioplasty and rotator cuff repair. There were 8 small tears (less than 1 cm), 5 moderate tears (1 to 3 cm), 2 large tears (3 to 5 cm), and 8 massive tears (greater than 5 cm). The dominant shoulder was involved in all patients and all were unable to play tennis before surgery. Eleven patients experienced a traumatic event that caused an injury, 6 while playing tennis, and 12 patients had a gradual onset of symptoms. At average follow-up of 42 months, 19 patients (83%) achieved a good result, were pain-free, and were able to play tennis at their presymptomatic competitive level. Three patients (13%), all with massive tears, had a satisfactory result and were able to play tennis, although at a lower competitive level secondary to weakness. One patient (4%), who also had a massive tear, had an unsatisfactory result and was unable to play tennis.
authors.affiliation: Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center, New York, New York.
authors.forename: L U
authors.initials: LU
authors.lastname: Bigiliani
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kimmel
authors.forename: P D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: McCann
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Wolfe
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D017006:Rotator Cuff / Q000601:surgery; D000070636:Rotator Cuff Injuries; D012421:Rupture; D013708:Tendon Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D013715:Tennis / Q000293:injuries*