[Results of surgical therapy of ruptures of the rotator cuff of the shoulder].
OBJECTIVE
This retrospective study was designed to evaluate mid-term results of patients after surgical treatment of rotator-cuff-tears by means of clinical and ultrasonographical examination with special regard to factors influencing the prognosis.


METHODS
126 patients were examined clinically and ultrasonographically at a mean postoperative period of 37 months after surgery for rotator cuff lesions. A conservative therapy failed to be successful for at least 3 months before. All patients received an open decompression of the subacromial space, 68.6% of the patients received an additional reconstruction of the rotator cuff. The results were evaluated by use of the Constant-Score. The ultrasonographical examination was performed according to the technique described by Hedtmann.


RESULTS
69% of the patients showed good and excellent results. The mean Constant-Score was 81.4% of the age- and sex-related normal values. Patients with lesions extending more than 3 cm did significantly worse than those with smaller ruptures (Constant-Score: 74.2% vs. 90.6%). An involvement of the subscapularis-tendon was related with bad results. A rerupture was seen ultrasonographically in 17.3% of the patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Regarding strict criteria of evaluation almost 70% of our patients not responding to conservative treatment achieved good and excellent results after surgery. Smaller lesions and tears solely involving the supraspinatus-tendon were associated with a better prognosis. Ultrasonography allows a reliable examination of the rotator-cuff-anatomy postoperatively performed, too.
Plafki
C
C
Orthopädische Universitätsklinik Bochum.
Hedtmann
A
A
Fett
H
H
Lütke
A
A
Willburger
R E
RE
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D019299:Decompression, Surgical; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D012008:Recurrence; D012086:Reoperation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D017006:Rotator Cuff / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D000070636:Rotator Cuff Injuries; D012421:Rupture; D013708:Tendon Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D014463:Ultrasonography