Shoulder activity of the contralateral shoulder as a prognostic factor in patients with arthroscopic rotator cuff repair

Background

This study aimed to investigate the prognosticator of the contralateral rotator cuff in patients who underwent arthroscopic rotator cuff repair (ARCR) for symptomatic rotator cuff tear (RCT).

Methods

A total of 104 patients with a mean age of 64.7 years (range, 40–83 years) underwent ARCR and were checked for the presence of a contralateral RCT using preoperative ultrasonography. Preoperative demographic data, including patients’ occupations and sports activities, were also evaluated.

Results

The mean follow-up period for the operated shoulder was 25.0 months (range, 12–72 months). An RCT of the contralateral shoulder was observed in 40 of the 104 (38.5%) patients. Contralateral shoulder pain was observed in 16 (40%) and 15 (23.1%) patients in the RCT group preoperatively and the non-tear group, respectively. Of the 31 patients with shoulder pain, a poor prognosis was seen in 17 (54.8%). Statistical significance was observed between the active and sedentary groups in the RCT group, with eight patients (30.8%) in the active group and none in the sedentary group having a poor prognosis (P = .02). In contrast, in the non-tear group, a poor prognosis was observed in four patients (10.5%) in the active group, which was not significantly different compared to the five patients (19.2%) in the sedentary group (P = .33).

Conclusions

For patients in the active group, RCTs are a risk factor for poor prognosis in the contralateral shoulder of ARCR.