title: Mini-open rotator cuff repair does not result in intractable stiffness.
abstract: We conducted a study to determine whether intractable postoperative stiffness or deltoid damage results from primary arthroscopic anterior acromioplasty and mini-open repair of full-thickness tears of the superior rotator cuff. Eighty-three repairs (80 patients) were available for follow-up at a mean (range) of 57.2 (12-98) months. Range of motion at presentation and motion in contralateral shoulder at final follow-up were used for comparison. Significant improvements were seen in active forward elevation, passive forward elevation, and active external rotation at 90° abduction. Final motion in the operative and contralateral shoulders was similar. American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons shoulder index improved significantly (P<.0001) from 50.0 before surgery to 88.3 after surgery. Although 1 patient had a symptomatic retear that required revision surgery, there were no cases of intractable stiffness, and there were no cases of deltoid damage.
authors.affiliation: Orthopaedic Surgery Associates of Marquette P.C., Marquette, Michigan, USA.
authors.forename: Jason D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Doppelt
authors.forename: Robert J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Neviaser
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001182:Arthroscopy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007431:Intraoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology; D022125:Lacerations / Q000601:surgery*; D008023:Ligaments, Articular / Q000293:injuries; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012086:Reoperation; D017006:Rotator Cuff / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D000070636:Rotator Cuff Injuries; D053441:Suture Anchors