title: Arthroscopic Partial Repair of Irreparable Rotator Cuff Tears: Preoperative Factors Associated With Outcome Deterioration Over 2 Years.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Arthroscopic partial repair is a treatment option in irreparable large-to-massive rotator cuff tears without arthritic changes. However, there are indications that arthroscopic partial repair does not yield satisfactory outcomes.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To report the clinical and radiographic results of arthroscopic partial repairs in patients with irreparable large-to-massive cuff tears. In addition, an analysis was performed regarding preoperative factors that may influence patient outcomes and patient-rated satisfaction over time.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case series; Level of evidence, 4.
  
  
  METHODS
  From 2005 to 2011, a total of 31 patients who underwent arthroscopic partial repair for irreparable large-to-massive cuff tears were retrospectively evaluated. Partial repair was defined as posterior cuff tissue repair with or without subscapularis tendon repair to restore the transverse force couple of the cuff. Pain visual analog scale (PVAS), questionnaire results (American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons [ASES] and Simple Shoulder Test [SST]), and radiographic changes (acromiohumeral distance and degenerative change) were assessed preoperatively, at first follow-up (roughly 1 year postoperatively), and at final follow-up (>2 years postoperatively). Patients rated their satisfaction level at each postoperative follow-up as well. Preoperative factors that might influence outcomes, such as patient demographics, tear size, and fatty infiltration, were investigated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The preoperative, first follow-up, and final follow-up results for mean PVAS (5.13, 2.13, and 3.16, respectively) and questionnaires (ASES: 41.97, 76.37, and 73.78; SST: 3.61, 6.33, and 6.07, respectively) improved significantly (all P < .05). Radiographic evaluation showed no difference compared with preoperative status. Nevertheless, patient-rated satisfaction at final evaluation was inferior: 16 good responses ("very satisfied" and "satisfied") and 15 poor responses ("rather the same" and "dissatisfied"). Despite initial improvements in both groups (P < .05), patients with poor satisfaction demonstrated statistically significant deterioration in mean PVAS (from 2.07 to 4.67), questionnaire scores (ASES: from 74.56 to 59.80; SST: from 5.11 to 3.81), and acromiohumeral distance (from 7.19 to 5.06 mm) between the first and final follow-up (all P < .05). Patients with good satisfaction showed no significant difference or they improved (P > .05) from the first to the final follow-up. Among preoperative factors, fatty infiltration of the teres minor was identified as the only statistically significant factor affecting patient-rated satisfaction (P = .007).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study showed that arthroscopic partial repair may produce initial improvement in selected outcomes at 2-year follow-up. However, about half of the patients in the study were not satisfied with their outcomes, which had deteriorated over time. Preoperative fatty infiltration of the teres minor was the only factor that correlated with worse final outcomes and poor satisfaction after arthroscopic partial repair.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Center for Joint Surgery, National Medical Center, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Min Soo
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Shon
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Ilsan Paik Hospital, College of Medicine, Inje University, Goyang, South Korea.
authors.forename: Kyoung Hwan
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Koh
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Eulji Medical Center, Eulji University School of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Tae Kang
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Center for Joint Surgery, National Medical Center, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Won Ju
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Chungnam National University Hospital, Daejeon, South Korea.
authors.forename: Kyung Cheon
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea smsice125@naver.com shoulderyoo@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Jae Chul
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Yoo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001182:Arthroscopy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017006:Rotator Cuff / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D000070636:Rotator Cuff Injuries; D012421:Rupture / Q000601:surgery; D012782:Shoulder / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D000070599:Shoulder Injuries; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014945:Wound Healing
keywords: fatty infiltration; irreparable rotator cuff tear; partial repair; preoperative factor; rotator cuff; teres minor