Summary

The first study that evaluates the clinical outcomes and complications in a series of patients with painful partial bursal cuff tears treated with the arthroscopic transtendinous repair without acromioplasty with a minimum 2-year follow-up.

Abstract

Purpose

To evaluate the clinical outcomes and complications in a series of patients with painful partial bursal cuff tears treated with the arthroscopic transtendinous repair without acromioplasty with a minimum 2-year follow-up.

Methods

Eighty patients with a mean age of 55.2 years who had undergone an arthroscopic transtendon repair for a painful bursal-sided rotator cuff tear without acromioplasty with a minimum of 2-year follow-up were contacted. Clinical outcomes using a patient-based questionnaire, the University of California at Los Angeles score, the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons score, and the visual analog scale were evaluated. Postoperative complications were also assessed.

Results

The mean follow up was 42 months (24-84 months). After arthroscopic repair, the University of California at Los Angeles scores improved from 15.8 to 31.4; the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons scores improved from 42.5 to 86.1; and the visual analog scale scores improved from 6.3 to 0.7 (P < .0001). A total of 93.2% of patients were satisfied with their results. Only three patients developed a postoperative adhesive capsulitis that responded favorably to physical therapy.

Conclusions

Arthroscopic transtendon repair of partial-thickness bursal-side rotator cuff tears without acromioplasty is a reliable procedure that can be expected to produce satisfactory functional improvements and pain relief in most patients with a low rate of complications in the midterm follow-up.
Level of Evidence: Level IV, therapeutic case series.