title: Arthroscopic repair of massive rotator cuff tears: outcome and analysis of factors associated with healing failure or poor postoperative function.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Many patients with an unhealed cuff after repair show functional improvement.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate outcomes of arthroscopically repaired massive rotator cuff tears and to identify prognostic factors affecting rotator cuff healing and functional outcome, especially in patients with failed rotator cuff healing.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case series; Level of evidence, 4.
  
  
  METHODS
  Among 173 patients who underwent arthroscopic repair of a massive rotator cuff tear, 108 patients with a mean age of 63.7 years were included. Outcome evaluation was completed both anatomically (CT arthrography or ultrasonography) and functionally at a minimum of 1 year postoperatively; mean follow-up period was 31.68 ± 15.81 months. Various factors affecting cuff healing were analyzed, and factors affecting functional outcome were evaluated in patients with failed repairs using both univariate and multivariate analyses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The anatomic failure rate was 39.8% in arthroscopically repaired massive rotator cuff tears; however, functional status significantly improved regardless of cuff healing (P < .05). Several factors were associated with failure of cuff healing in the univariate analysis, but only fatty infiltration (FI) of the infraspinatus was significantly related to healing failure in the multivariate analysis (P = .04). Among patients with failed rotator cuff healing, only reduced postoperative acromiohumeral distance (AHD) was related to poor functional outcome in the multivariate analysis (P = .01), with a cutoff value of 4.1 mm.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite a high rate of healing failures, arthroscopic repair can be recommended in patients with massive rotator cuff tears because of the functional gain at midterm follow-up. Higher FI of the infraspinatus was the single most important factor negatively affecting cuff healing. In cases of failed massive rotator cuff repair, no preoperative factor was able to predict poor functional outcome; reduced postoperative AHD was the only relevant functional determinant in the patients' eventual functional outcome and should be considered when ascertaining a prognosis and planning further treatment strategies.
authors: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Konkuk University Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Seok Won
authors: SW
authors: Chung
authors: Joon Yub
authors: JY
authors: Kim
authors: Min Hyung
authors: MH
authors: Kim
authors: Sae Hoon
authors: SH
authors: Kim
authors: Joo Han
authors: JH
authors: Oh
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001182:Arthroscopy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011184:Postoperative Period; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017006:Rotator Cuff / Q000502:physiology / Q000601:surgery; D000070636:Rotator Cuff Injuries; D017211:Treatment Failure
keywords: acromiohumeral distance; functional outcome; massive rotator cuff tear; prognostic factors; rotator cuff healing