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Primary arthroscopic rotator cuff repair reverses pseudoparalysis in most patients
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For patients with preoperative pseudoparalysis, arthroscopic rotator cuff repair can reverse the condition with the surgery and advanced mobilization techniques, according to this study by Oregon researchers.
The procedure can be done with high improvement and a low rate of complications, but only if this surgery is the first procedure for these patients. Revision arthroscopic rotator cuff repair (ARCR) was only successful in regaining 90° or greater active forward flexion in 43% of patients with pseudoparalysis, according to the abstract.
Researchers retrospectively separated patients into primary and revision ARCR groups and found that 90% of primary ARCR patients increased their active forward flexion from 49° preoperatively to 155° postoperatively at minimum 75-month follow-up, according to the abstract. Similarly, pseudoparalysis was reversed in the group who underwent revision ARCR, but active forward flexion only increased from 43° to 109° and the reversal occurred in 43% of patients.
In both groups, the mean American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons score improved from preoperative levels, according to the abstract. An increase in active forward flexion in the primary group was associated with a shorter period of time before repair and a complete repair, researchers stated.
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