title: EVALUATION OF ANATOMICAL INTEGRITY USING ULTRASOUND EXAMINATION, AND FUNCTIONAL INTEGRITY USING THE CONSTANT & MURLEY SCORE, OF THE ROTATOR CUFF FOLLOWING ARTHROSCOPIC REPAIR.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the functional and anatomical results from surgical treatment via arthroscopy in cases of complete rupture of the rotator cuff, using ultrasound images and the Constant and Murley functional index to investigate the correlation between them.
  
  
  METHODS
  100 patients (110 shoulders) were evaluated. The mean follow-up was 48.8 ± 33.28 months (12 to 141 months). The mean age was 60.25 ± 10.09 (36 to 81 years). Rupture of the supraspinal tendon alone occurred in 85 cases (77%), and in association with the infraspinatus in 20 cases (18%) and subscapularis in four shoulders (4%). An association of supraspinatus, infraspinatus and subscapularis lesions was found in one shoulder (1%). The lesions were classified according to DeOrio and Cofield scores as small/medium in 85 shoulders (77%) and large/extensive in 25 (23%). The clinical results were assessed in accordance with the Constant and Murley criteria. The ultrasound results relate to reports issued by different radiologists. Statistical analysis was carried out using the chi-square test, Fisher's exact test, Student's t test, Pearson's correlation, Kruskal-Wallis correlation and logistic regression (significance: p < 0.05).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean Constant evaluation was 85.3 ± 10.06 in the normal shoulders and 83.96 ± 8.67 in the operated shoulders (p = 0.224). Excellent and good results were found in 74 shoulders (67%), satisfactory and moderate results in 32 (29%) and poor results in four (4%). The ultrasound evaluation showed 38 shoulders with re-rupture (35%) and absence of rupture in 71 (65%). Among the 74 shoulders (67%) with excellent/good results, 22 (30%) presented re-rupture in the ultrasound report (p = 0.294). Among the four shoulders (4%) with poor results, two (50%) presented reports of intact tendons (p = 0.294).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There was no statistically valid correlation between the ultrasound diagnosis and the clinical evaluation of results among the patients who underwent arthroscopic repair to treat full tear lesions of the rotator cuff. The clinical results from the complete rotator cuff repairs via arthroscopy presented a high level of functional recovery (Constant 83.96), compared with the contralateral shoulder. The postoperative ultrasound reports presented a high percentage of re-rupture (35%). Postoperative strength was greater among the patients aged under 60 years (p = 0.002) and in cases of lesions less than or equal to 3 cm (p = 0.003).
authors.affiliation: MSc and PhD in Orthopedics. Head of the Shoulder Group at the Orthopedic Hospital and Belo Horizonte Hospital, Belo Horizonte, MG.
authors.forename: Glaydson Gomes
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Godinho
authors.affiliation: Attending Surgeon in the Shoulder Group at the Orthopedic Hospital and Military Police Hospital of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG.
authors.forename: Flavio de Oliveira
authors.initials: Fde O
authors.lastname: França
authors.affiliation: Attending Surgeon in the Shoulder Group at the Orthopedic Hospital and Belo Horizonte Hospital, Belo Horizonte, MG.
authors.forename: Freitas José Marcio
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Alves
authors.affiliation: Residents in the Shoulder Group at the Orthopedic Hospital and Belo Horizonte Hospital, Belo Horizonte, MG.
authors.forename: Fábio Nagato
authors.initials: FN
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.affiliation: Residents in the Shoulder Group at the Orthopedic Hospital and Belo Horizonte Hospital, Belo Horizonte, MG.
authors.forename: Leonardo Oliveira
authors.initials: LO
authors.lastname: Nobre
authors.affiliation: Residents in the Shoulder Group at the Orthopedic Hospital and Belo Horizonte Hospital, Belo Horizonte, MG.
authors.forename: Manoel Augusto
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: De Almeida Neto
authors.affiliation: Residents in the Shoulder Group at the Orthopedic Hospital and Belo Horizonte Hospital, Belo Horizonte, MG.
authors.forename: Marcos André
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Mendes Da Silva
keywords: Arthroscopy; Rotator cuff; Ultrasonography