[Operative and follow-up treatment of rotator cuff tears--the current situation].
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to evaluate the current situation of rotator cuff repair and follow-up treatment in German hospitals.


METHODS
An evaluated survey, enquiring about the year 2006, was sent to all 777 German orthopaedic and/or trauma surgery departments. The hospitals were chosen using the official index of hospitals from the German Federal Statistical Office.


RESULTS
44 % of the surveys were sent back, whereby 40 % were of use. Within the 309 departments, 26 % of the total number of 59,957 shoulder operations were rotator cuff repairs. Mini-open was the operation method in 49 %, open in 29 % and arthroscopic in 22 % of cases. Regarding the operational methods, there were differences between the departments and level of care. The arthroscopic technique was used sometimes in 48 % of the departments, whereas 52 % never used it. Specialised shoulder departments employed the total arthroscopic procedure more often. A set follow-up treatment occurred in 79 % of departments.


CONCLUSIONS
Rotator cuff repair is mainly carried out using the mini-open method, which is nowadays regarded as gold standard.
Schofer
M D
MD
Orthopädie und Rheumatologie, Universitätsklinikum Marburg, Marburg, Germany. schofer@med.uni-marburg.de
Quante
M
M
Peterlein
C-D
CD
Timmesfeld
N
N
Phan
K
K
Fuchs-Winkelmann
S
S
D000328:Adult; D001182:Arthroscopy / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019985:Benchmarking / Q000592:standards; D019091:Critical Pathways / Q000592:standards; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D019299:Decompression, Surgical / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005858:Germany; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011182:Postoperative Care; D017006:Rotator Cuff / Q000601:surgery; D000070636:Rotator Cuff Injuries; D019534:Shoulder Impingement Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery*; D013708:Tendon Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery*; D053656:Tenodesis / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014600:Utilization Review / Q000706:statistics & numerical data