The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of patients' age at operation on the clinical results of arthroscopic rotator cuff repairs (ARCR). 24 patients were treated with arthroscopic rotator cuff repair (15 males, 9 females, mean age 62.4) from September 2007 to March 2009 and their postoperative conditions followed-up for more than 6 months. We examined a correlation between the age of patients and clinical outcomes (JOA score, active flexion angle, and active external rotation angle after operation). We also evaluated 11 shoulders of 24 patients on cuff integrity 6 months after operation by MRI.
The average of total JOA score was significantly increased from 56.5 to 85.2 points after ARCR. The average of flexion angle was also significantly increased from 87.5 to 150 degrees. There existed significant correlation between the age of patients and clinical outcomes ( JOA score : r=-0.454, p=0.0304, active flexion angle : r=-0.511, p=0.0098). The correlation between age and cuff integrity was found on MRI as well.
Shimokawa et al reported no significant difference was observed in clinical outcomes of ARCR between in patients 65-years of age or older and in patients younger than 65 years old. Rebuzzi et al reported no correlation between the age of patients and the clinical outcomes. The subjects were divided by their age in these studies, but, in this study, we investigated and found the correlation between the patients' age at operation and some clinical outcomes after ARCR.