2017 ISAKOS Biennial Congress ePoster #2243

 

Does Age Affect Functional Outcome After Rotator Cuff Repair?

Katie Kessler, BS, Ann Arbor, MICHIGAN UNITED STATES
Christopher Robbins, PhD, Ann Arbor, MI UNITED STATES
Asheesh Bedi, MD, Ann Arbor, MI UNITED STATES
James Carpenter, Ann Arbor, MI UNITED STATES
Joel Gagnier, ND, MSc, PhD, Ann Arbor, MI UNITED STATES
Bruce S. Miller, MD, MS, Ann Arbor, MI UNITED STATES

University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, UNITED STATES

FDA Status Not Applicable

Summary

Increasing age was associated with improved functional outcome scores and improved pain scores at three year follow-up after rotator cuff repair.

Abstract

Background

Reports regarding the relationship between advanced age and the management of rotator cuff disease have been equivocal. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of age on functional outcome following rotator cuff repair surgery.

Methods

Using a pragmatic cohort, 213 patients with confirmed full-thickness rotator cuff tears (RCTs) were followed prospectively for three years. At baseline, 6, 12, 24, and 36 months, the Western Ontario Rotator Cuff Index (WORC), American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score, and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for pain were collected. Complications were assessed by chart review. Generalized estimating equations were used to examine the effects of fixed factors on the outcome variables of the WORC, ASES, and pain VAS scores longitudinally from baseline to 36 months.

Results

The mean age of the 213 subjects who underwent rotator cuff repair was 58 years (range 32-82, sd 9.2). After controlling for numerous covariates known to influence rotator cuff disease, increasing age was associated with significantly better WORC scores (beta=-5.9, p=0.02), better ASES scores (beta=0.236, p=0.04), and improved pain scores (beta=-0.3, p=0.02). Advancing age was not associated with complications in the postoperative period. As described in previous studies, male gender was associated with more favorable outcome measures, while diabetes and tear chronicity were associated with inferior outcomes.

Conclusions

Increasing age was associated with improved functional outcome scores and improved pain scores at three year follow-up after rotator cuff repair. Further study is warranted to more clearly elucidate the relationship between age and outcome for this common clinical entity.