title: Evaluation of the results from arthroscopic surgical treatment of rotator cuff injuries in patients aged 65 years and over.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the results from arthroscopic surgical treatment of rotator cuff injuries in patients aged 65 years and over.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between 1998 and 2009, 168 patients underwent operations. Five cases were excluded. The remaining 163 patients were stratified according to their age group: 65-69 years (49.1%), 70-74 (26.4%) and 75 years and over (24.5%). Their mean age was 71 years (range: 65-83). There were 63 male patients (38.7%). The mean length of time with pain, from the onset of symptoms to the surgery, was 23 months (range: 2 days to 240 months). Sixty-two patients (38%) reported histories of trauma and 26 (16%) reported that their pain worsened through exertion.
  
  
  RESULTS
  From the UCLA criteria, 80.4% of the results were excellent, 16% good, 1.8% fair and 1.8% poor. Complications occurred in 11%. The final clinical result did not show any correlation with age progression, injury size or tendons affected. However, there was a significant association (p < 0.001) between the presence of trauma and larger injuries. The length of time between the onset of symptoms and the surgical procedure had a significant relationship (p < 0.027) with the postoperative results: the longer this time was, the worse the results were.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Arthroscopic treatment of rotator cuff injuries in patients aged 65 years and over presented excellent and good results in 96.4% of the cases, according to the UCLA assessment, with a low complication rate. Advanced age did not show any influence on the postoperative clinical evolution, but the earlier the surgical treatment was instituted, the better the results were.
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Ciências Médicas da Santa Casa São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Alberto Naoki
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Miyazaki
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Ciências Médicas da Santa Casa São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Luciana Andrade
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: da Silva
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Ciências Médicas da Santa Casa São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Pedro Doenux
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Ciências Médicas da Santa Casa São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Sergio Luiz
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Checchia
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Ciências Médicas da Santa Casa São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Carina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Ciências Médicas da Santa Casa São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Taís Stedile Busin
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Giora
keywords: Arthroscopy; Elderly people; Rotator cuff