title: Repair of full thickness rotator cuff tears. Gender, age, and other factors affecting outcome.
abstract: Seventy-two full thickness rotator cuff tears (72 patients) were treated with an open rotator cuff repair between 1986 and 1993. The average postoperative followup was 54 months (range, 24-102 months; standard deviation, 22 months). Fifty-three (74%) patients had no pain, 16 (22%) patients had slight pain without restriction of activities, and three (4%) patients had moderate pain with activity compromise. Women with an associated biceps tendon rupture tended to have worse results. Women had a negative, statistically significant relationship between age and shoulder scoring scales, but age at the time of surgery was not related to any outcome variables for men. A rotator cuff tear greater than or equal to 5 cm2 as determined at the time of surgery was associated with a poorer outcome. The average University of California at Los Angeles score was 32 points (range, 7-35 points; standard deviation, 5 points). The average Constant-Murley score was 78 of 100 points (range, 12-95 points; standard deviation, 15 points). A yes response was given for an average of 10 of 12 questions on the Simple Shoulder Test (range, 0-12 questions; standard deviation, 3 questions). More than 4 years after open rotator cuff repair, patients had a 94% patient satisfaction rate with lasting relief of pain and improved function.
authors.affiliation: Section of Sports Medicine, Rush Medical College, Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60612, USA.
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Romeo
authors.forename: D W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Hang
authors.forename: B R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Bach
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shott
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001132:Arm; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019637:Orthopedic Procedures / Q000379:methods; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017006:Rotator Cuff / Q000601:surgery*; D000070636:Rotator Cuff Injuries; D012421:Rupture; D012737:Sex Factors; D012785:Shoulder Joint / Q000503:physiopathology; D013708:Tendon Injuries / Q000150:complications; D016896:Treatment Outcome