title: Prognostic factors for recovery after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair: a prognostic study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Studies concerning prognostic factors of recovery after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair mostly focus on tendon integrity or functional recovery as an outcome. Little is known about how they influence quality of life after surgery. We therefore tried to identify prognostic factors having an impact on quality of life after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study included 30 patients who underwent arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. We assessed Western Ontario Rotator Cuff Index as primary outcome and RAND-36, Constant-Murley score, and a shoulder hindrance score as secondary outcomes. Patients were repeatedly measured: once preoperatively and 4 times postoperatively. Preoperative range of motion, obesity, fatty infiltration, and cuff retraction were preselected as prognostic factors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients were significantly improved at 3 months and 6 months after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. In multiple regression analysis, none of the preselected factors could be identified as a prognostic factor influencing quality of life after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair (measured with the Western Ontario Rotator Cuff Index). For the outcome variables RAND-36 (6 months, 1 year) and shoulder hindrance score (1 year), fatty infiltration Goutallier stages 1 and 2 and retraction grades II, III, and IV were significant predictors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although fatty infiltration and retraction grade predict the RAND-36 and shoulder hindrance score, this study could not support preoperative range of motion, obesity, fatty infiltration, or retraction of the cuff as a prognostic factor for quality of life after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. This study shows that if selection of patients is done properly, these factors do not influence a successful outcome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, St. Antonius Ziekenhuis, Nieuwegein, The Netherlands; Medicort Sports and Orthopedic Care, Utrecht, The Netherlands. Electronic address: anouk@fermont.eu.
authors.forename: Anouk J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Fermont
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, St. Antonius Ziekenhuis, Nieuwegein, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Nienke
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Wolterbeek
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, St. Antonius Ziekenhuis, Nieuwegein, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Ronald N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Wessel
authors.affiliation: Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium; University College Thim van der Laan, Landquart, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Jean-Pierre
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Baeyens
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, CAPHRI Research School, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Rob A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: de Bie
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001182:Arthroscopy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology*; D020127:Recovery of Function; D017006:Rotator Cuff / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D000070636:Rotator Cuff Injuries; D012421:Rupture / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D000070599:Shoulder Injuries; D012785:Shoulder Joint / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Shoulder; arthroscopic repair; prognostic factors; quality of life; rotator cuff lesion