[Functional and quality of life outcome of non-operated rotator cuff tears].
Our objective was to determine the long-term functional and quality-of-life outcomes for patients with rotator cuff tears receiving conservative treatment. We also studied correlations between the Constant and SF-36 scores.


METHODS
This was a prospective survey carried out on patients having consulted in our Rehabilitation Department between January 1995 and December 2004 for radiologically-confirmed rotator cuff tears and having received medical treatment combined with a rehabilitation programme. The outcome measures used in our study were as follows: degree of motion, muscle strength, degree of pain on a visual analogical scale (VAS) and scores on the Constant and SF-36 scales.


RESULTS
The study population consisted of 38 women and 21 men (mean age: 61 years; range 46-75). The mean final outcome measurements were taken after an average of seven years of follow-up (range: 4-12). The VAS score for pain at rest dropped from 68.3+/-31 to 28.3+/-12 (p<10(-3)) over the follow-up period. The score for pain during effort fell from 82.5+/-36 to 40.3+/-15. In all cases, active joint mobility was better at the final assessment (p<0.001). The Constant score rose from 28.8+/-14.2 to 51.6+/-21.8. The SF36 score showed a 16% improvement. Sixty-two percent of patients were satisfied or very satisfied with this treatment. The change over time was rated as good to very good by 42 patients (71.8%). The observed improvement in quality of life was correlated with reduced pain at rest (r=0.62) and during effort (r=0.59) and with the increased Constant score.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results underline the benefits (in terms of short- and long-term pain reduction, functional improvements and better quality of life) of an individualized rehabilitation programme (combined with medical treatment) in cases of rotator cuff tears.
Ghroubi
S
S
Unité de recherche 04/UR/08-07, service de medecine physique rééducation réadaptation fonctionnelle, hôpital H.-Bourguiba, université du Sud, 3000 Sfax, Tunisie.
Chaari
M
M
Elleuch
H
H
Guermazi
M
M
Baklouti
S
S
Elleuch
M H
MH
D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D053580:Muscle Strength; D010147:Pain Measurement; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D011788:Quality of Life; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D020127:Recovery of Function; D000070636:Rotator Cuff Injuries; D012421:Rupture / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D020069:Shoulder Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D013708:Tendon Injuries / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D016896:Treatment Outcome