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AAOS appropriate use criteria recommendation improved clinical outcomes for rotator cuff tears
When the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Appropriate Use Criteria recommendations are followed, improved clinical outcomes may be achieved for patients with full-thickness rotator cuff tears, according to results of this study.
Using the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) Appropriate Use Criteria (AUC) web-based application, researchers collected demographic information, treatment allocation and American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) and Western Ontario Rotator Cuff Index scores from 134 patients with rotator cuff tears and rated the “appropriateness” of the treatment options. Researchers compared ratings with actual treatments and outcomes at 32-week or 48-week follow-up.
Results showed excellent agreement between the AUC recommendations and the actual treatment administered. According to results, 79% of patients received “appropriate” treatment. Investigators found 19% received treatment that “may be appropriate” and 2% received “rarely appropriate” treatment. Researchers noted discordance between treatment and the AUC recommendation was significantly and independently predicted by response to previous treatment, American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status classification and presence of muscle atrophy or fatty infiltration. The ASES score improved more in the cases of discordance vs. when there was agreement, researchers noted. – by Casey Tingle
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.