Reduction of postoperative stiffness after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair: results of a customized physical therapy regimen based on risk factors for stiffness.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to determine the benefits of a modified rehabilitation protocol (incorporating early closed-chain overhead stretching) in reducing the risk of postoperative stiffness after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair.


METHODS
During a 17-month period, we performed primary arthroscopic rotator cuff repairs in 152 patients. After surgery, patients with risk factors identified in the previous study (calcific tendonitis, adhesive capsulitis, PASTA [partial articular surface tendon avulsion]-type rotator cuff repair, concomitant labral repair, or single-tendon cuff repair) were enrolled in a modified rehabilitation protocol that added early overhead closed-chain passive motion exercises to our standard protocol; alternatively, patients without risk factors received a standard conservative rehabilitation program. Historical controls were used and comprised patients in the senior author's practice who all received the conservative rehabilitation protocol. The prevalence of postoperative stiffness was compared between the historical cohort and current study patients by use of Fisher exact tests.


RESULTS
Among the 152 patients studied, 79 were positive for at least 1 of the specified risk factors and received the modified protocol. Postoperative stiffness developed in none of the 79 patients enrolled in the modified program. This finding represented a significant improvement (Fisher exact test, P = .004) over the historical controls, in which 18 of the 231 at-risk patients had significant postoperative stiffness develop.


CONCLUSIONS
In at-risk patients (with calcific tendonitis, adhesive capsulitis, PASTA repair, concomitant labral repair, and single-tendon repair), a postoperative rehabilitation regimen that incorporates early closed-chain passive overhead motion can reduce the incidence of postoperative stiffness after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair.
Orthopedics International, Seattle, Washington, USA.
Samuel S
SS
Koo
B K
BK
Parsley
Stephen S
SS
Burkhart
John D
JD
Schoolfield
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001182:Arthroscopy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D002062:Bursitis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D012307:Risk Factors; D017006:Rotator Cuff / Q000601:surgery*; D052256:Tendinopathy / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D055815:Young Adult