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Strength recovery after arthroscopic anterosuperior cuff repair: analysis of a consecutive series

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Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to look at the functional outcomes of arthroscopic repair of anterosuperior rotator cuff tears.

Methods

Sixty-one patients who underwent arthroscopic repair of anterosuperior cuff tears were retrospectively reviewed. At a minimum 6 months of follow-up, shoulder functional outcome scores including the Constant score (CS), simple shoulder test (SST) and visual analogic scale (VAS) were collected. Strength recovery for supraspinatus and subscapularis was investigated.

Results

All patients (mean age 59 ± 7) were available at a mean follow-up of 18 ± 7 months. The average CS improved from 30.8 ± 10.2 preoperatively to 76.5 ± 12.0 postoperatively, average SST from 2.6 ± 2.0 to 8.8 ± 2.9 and average VAS pain scale from 3.8 ± 1 to 0.5 ± 0.5 (p < 0.0001). Strength at belly-press and Jobe tests significantly improved (p < 0.0001). All patients with the exception of one were satisfied with the intervention.

Conclusions

Arthroscopic repair of anterosuperior rotator cuff tears provides a significant improvement in pain relief and shoulder function. Strength recovery is demonstrated in medium correlation with tendon healing.

Level of evidence

Level IV, therapeutic case series.

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Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Human and animal rights

This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Unit of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery, D. Cervesi Hospital, Cattolica, RN, Italy

    E. Visonà, P. Paladini, G. Merolla, S. Cerciello & G. Porcellini

  2. ULSS 17, Ospedale di Este, via San Fermo 10, Este, PD, Italy

    E. Visonà

  3. Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy

    S. Cerciello

Authors
  1. E. Visonà
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  2. P. Paladini
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  3. G. Merolla
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  4. S. Cerciello
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  5. G. Porcellini
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Correspondence to E. Visonà.

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Visonà, E., Paladini, P., Merolla, G. et al. Strength recovery after arthroscopic anterosuperior cuff repair: analysis of a consecutive series. Musculoskelet Surg 99 (Suppl 1), 37–42 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12306-015-0369-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12306-015-0369-9

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