Arthroscopic repair of anterosuperior (supraspinatus/subscapularis) rotator cuff tears: a prospective cohort with 2- to 4-year follow-up. Classification of biceps subluxation/instability.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the outcome of patients who underwent arthroscopic repair of anterosuperior rotator cuff tears. The null hypothesis, that there was no difference between preoperative scores and postoperative scores, was tested statistically.


METHODS
A cohort study.


METHODS
The preoperative and postoperative status of patients with anterosuperior rotator cuff tears was analyzed using the Constant score, American Shoulder and Elbow Society Index (ASES Index), a visual analog pain scale (VAS), a single question of percent function compared with the opposite unaffected extremity, and a single question reflecting satisfaction, "would you undergo the surgery and the postoperative rehabilitation to achieve the result you have today." There were also 2 groups compared: 1 that had a "tac" used for repair of the subscapularis tendon, and the other that used a "tie" technique for subscapularis repair. All supraspinatus tendon tears were complete and were repaired using a soft-tissue fixation device.


RESULTS
There was a statistically significant difference for all outcome measures except for the objective Constant score of the tie group, P =.58. Follow-up was 2 to 4 years. There were no differences based on sex or type of fixation device used for repair of the subscapularis tendon. There were no reruptures, clinically.


CONCLUSIONS
The arthroscopic repair of anterosuperior rotator cuff tears provides reliable expectation for improvement in function, decreases in pain, decreases in clinical findings of biceps subluxation and inflammation, improvement in shoulder scores, and the improvement of clinical findings of subscapularis insufficiency.
Bennett
William F
WF
5741 Bee Ridge Rd, Suite 470, Sarasota, Fl 34233, USA.
D000368:Aged; D001182:Arthroscopy / Q000379:methods*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007593:Joint Instability / Q000145:classification* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011446:Prospective Studies; D017006:Rotator Cuff / Q000601:surgery*; D000070636:Rotator Cuff Injuries; D012783:Shoulder Dislocation / Q000145:classification* / Q000601:surgery; D052256:Tendinopathy / Q000601:surgery; D013708:Tendon Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D013997:Time Factors