Assessing outcomes of arthroscopic rotator cuff repair in the workers compensation patient: case series

Purpose There is still conflicting evidence to support postoperative rehabilitation protocols using immobilization following rotator cuff repair over early motion. The objective of the study was to evaluate the evolution of pain, shoulder function, and patients' perception of their health status up to 1 year after cuff rotator repair and a standard postoperative rehabilitation protocol consisting of 4 weeks of immobilization followed by a 2-week assisted controlled rehabilitation. Methods Descriptive, longitudinal, uncontrolled case-series study was performed on 49 patients who underwent arthroscopic rotator cuff repair following traumatic or degenerative lesions. VAS scale for pain, Constant–Murley score for function, and SF-12 score for quality of life were used as outcome measures and were administered before the rehabilitation treatment, at the end of the 2-week rehabilitation, 3 months, and 1 year after surgery. Results VAS pain score decreased significantly along the follow-up reaching almost a nil value after 1 year (0.2). Function as measured by Constant–Murley score had a significant improvement during follow-up, reaching a mean value of 84.6. The short form (SF)-12 score increased over time reaching 46.3 for the physical and 43.8 for the psychological dimension, respectively, at 1 year. Conclusion The present study confirmed an excellent outcome at 1 year after rotator cuff repair using a traditional 4-week immobilization followed by a 2-week rehabilitation protocol without evidence of tendon un-healing or re-tearing. Level of Evidence This is a level IV, therapeutic case series.

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Fatal pulmonary embolism after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair: a case series

Muscles Ligaments and Tendons Journal ◽

10.32098/mltj.02.2014.25 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 04 (02) ◽

pp. 232 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

T.J.S. Durant ◽

M.P. Garofalo ◽

R.A. Arciero ◽

A.D. Mazzocca

Keyword(s):

Pulmonary Embolism ◽

Rotator Cuff ◽

Rotator Cuff Repair ◽

Case Series ◽

Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair ◽

Fatal Pulmonary Embolism ◽

Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff ◽

Cuff Repair

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Do patients receiving workers’ compensation who undergo arthroscopic rotator cuff repair have worse outcomes than non-recipients? Retrospective case–control study

Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery ◽

10.1177/2309499018802507 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 26 (3) ◽

pp. 230949901880250 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Kyung Cheon Kim ◽

Woo-Yong Lee ◽

Hyun Dae Shin ◽

Sun-Cheol Han ◽

Kyu-Woong Yeon

Keyword(s):

Rotator Cuff ◽

Rotator Cuff Repair ◽

Rating Scale ◽

Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair ◽

Rotator Cuff Tears ◽

Workers Compensation ◽

Vas Scores ◽

Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff ◽

The Impact ◽

Cuff Repair

Purpose: We compared preoperative and postoperative measures among workers’ compensation board (WCB) recipients and non-recipients and determined the impact of WCB receipt on the 1- and 2-year outcomes of rotator cuff repair. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed patients with full-thickness rotator cuff tears who underwent arthroscopic repair between September 2011 and September 2014. Patients were divided into two groups based on WCB status: WCB recipients and non-recipients. All patients returned for follow-up functional evaluations at 1 and 2 years after the operation. Four outcome measures were evaluated: visual analog scale (VAS) pain score, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score, the Shoulder Rating Scale of the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA), and range of motion (ROM). Results: Seventy patients (38 males, 32 females) were evaluated, 20 of whom were WCB recipients. At 1 year after the operation, ASES, UCLA, and VAS scores as well as abduction ROM (Abd-ROM) had improved significantly in both groups. However, non-recipients showed significantly greater improvement than did WCB recipients in ASES, UCLA, and VAS scores and in forward flexion ROM and Abd-ROM ( p = 0.000, 0.009, 0.002, 0.046, and 0.020, respectively). However, at 2 years after the operation (after the end of WCB), there were no significant differences in any clinical outcome between WCB recipients and non-recipients ( p = 0.057, 0.106, 0.075, 0.724, and 0.787, respectively). Conclusion: Although workers’ compensation recipients who underwent arthroscopic rotator cuff repair had worse outcomes while receiving WCB benefits, the outcomes were similar after WCB benefits ended.

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A Novel, Fast, Safe, and Effective All-Inside Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair Technique: Results of 1000 Consecutive Cases

Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine ◽

10.1177/2325967119864088 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 7 (8) ◽

pp. 232596711986408

Author(s):

Ashleigh Elkins ◽

Patrick H. Lam ◽

George A.C. Murrell

Keyword(s):

Rotator Cuff ◽

Rotator Cuff Repair ◽

Glenohumeral Joint ◽

Case Series ◽

Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair ◽

Repair Technique ◽

Ultrasound Evaluation ◽

Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff ◽

Cuff Repair ◽

Retear Rate

Background: Arthroscopic rotator cuff repair is a common but technically difficult surgical technique. This study describes a novel arthroscopic rotator cuff repair technique where the repair was performed while visualized entirely from the glenohumeral joint. A single-row knotless tension band inverted mattress suture technique was utilized with fixation obtained via suture anchors. The technique was relatively easy to perform and demonstrated good repair strength and footprint compression in an ex vivo ovine model. Purpose: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of this technique in 1000 consecutive patients. Study Design: Case series; Level of evidence, 4. Methods: This study was a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data in 1000 consecutive patients. Included patients underwent primary arthroscopic rotator cuff repair by a single surgeon performing the undersurface repair technique and attended 6-month follow-up with ultrasound evaluation to determine repair integrity. Exclusion criteria were irreparable tears, incomplete repairs, tendon reconstruction with a synthetic patch, and revision cases. Results: The only complication was retear. The overall retear rate at 6 months following repair with the undersurface technique was 8.5%. The mean ± SEM operative time for the technique was 16 ± 0.3 minutes (range, 4-75 minutes). There were no infections. Smaller tears were repaired faster and had better healing rates. Conclusion: The novel all-inside arthroscopic rotator cuff repair technique was safe and significantly faster and provided better healing rates than other repair techniques. The retear rate of 8.5% is, to the authors’ knowledge, the lowest reported rotator cuff retear rate in a large cohort of patients based on a single technique.

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