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Rotator cuff tears with longer duration of symptoms linked with poorer functional outcomes
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Patients with rotator cuff tears with shoulder stiffness and a preoperative duration of symptoms of 6 months or longer experienced poorer functional outcomes after one-stage arthroscopic treatment compared with patients who had a shorter duration of symptoms, according to results.
Researchers compared functional and radiographic outcomes of 44 patients with rotator cuff tears with shoulder stiffness and a preoperative duration of symptoms of 6 months or longer who underwent one-stage arthroscopic treatment with 38 patients who had a shorter preoperative duration of symptoms.
Results showed decreased pain and improvements in range of motion, strength and functional scores in both groups. However, researchers noted significantly better outcomes among patients in the short duration of symptom group for all functional instruments. Patients in the short duration of symptoms group also had higher mean postoperative abduction and external rotation at the side vs. the long duration of symptom group, according to results. Researchers found higher mean postoperative functional scores and lower mean postoperative VAS score for pain among patients in the short duration of symptoms group. Results showed no significant difference in the retear rates between the two groups, with seven retears and four retears in the short duration and long duration of symptoms groups, respectively. – by Casey Tingle
Disclosures: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.
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