2015 ISAKOS Biennial Congress Paper #0

Arthroscopic Single-Stage Capsular Release and Rotator Cuff Repair for Cuff Tears With Concomitant Stiffness. A Comparative Analysis of Functional and Radiological Outcomes

Silvampatti Ramasamy Sundararajan, MS(Orth), COIMBATORE, TAMILNADU INDIA
S Rajasekaran, MS(Orth),DOrth,DNB,FRCS(Ed),FRCS(Lon),MCh(Liv),PhD, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu INDIA

Ganga Hospital, COIMBATORE, Tamil Nadu, INDIA

FDA Status Not Applicable

Summary: SINGLE-STAGE ARTHROSCOPIC REPAIR AND CAPSULAR RELEASE FOR ROTATOR CUFF TEARS WITH STIFFNESS RESULTS IN A GOOD CLINICAL AND RADIOLOGICAL OUTCOME WITH COMPARABLE RETEARS IN BOTH GROUPS

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Abstract:

Introduction

There has been limited literature comparing the outcomes of concomitant treatment of rotator cuff tears with stiffness using a single-stage operative procedure. Our study aimed to analyse the functional outcomes & retear rates after a single-stage arthroscopic capsular release(ACR) & cuff repair for patients with cuff tear & stiffness by conducting a matched cohort analysis with cuff repairs without stiffness.

Materials And Methods

Patients who presented with full-thickness rotator cuff tears & concomitant stiffness were included in the study(Group I)(n=19). Clinical assessment was done in terms of range of motion (ROM), Visual analogue score (VAS), Constant score & American Shoulder Elbow Surgeons (ASES) scores. Group I was compared to a matched cohort of patients undergoing cuff repair without stiffness during the same study period(Group II)(n=38). MRI analysis was done at one year postoperatively to assess healing of the cuff.

Results

19/41 patients in group I with a mean follow-up of 27.3(±14.2) months were compared to 38/420 in group II patients at a mean follow-up of 35(±8.1) months. All parameters improved significantly postoperatively & were comparable in both groups though recovery was slower in Group I. We had 3/19(15.8%) & 8/41(21%) retears in Group I & II respectively, however this difference was not statistically significant.

Conclusion

Single-stage arthroscopic repair and capsular release for rotator cuff tears with stiffness results in a good clinical and radiological outcome. Retear rates are comparable to cuff tears without stiffness.