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Clinical and anatomic results of surgical repair of chronic rotator cuff tears at ten-year minimum follow-up

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Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to evaluate long-term clinical and anatomic results after open rotator cuff repair.

Materials and method

Fifty-three patients were included in this study. Rotator cuff tears were limited to one tendon in 34, and two tendons or more in 19. The supraspinatus tendon was involved alone in 30 cases, and the subscapularis in four. Clinical, radiographic and MRI evaluations were performed for all patients at ten-year minimum follow-up.

Results

At 11.4-years average follow-up, satisfactory results were obtained with improvement on pain level, in range of motion with a gain in active anterior elevation and in external rotation as well as in strength in abduction. Absolute Constant score reached 74.7 points and adjusted Constant score 99.6%. SSV was 82.5% with a SST score of 10 points. Osteoarthritis changes increased with follow-up with osteoarthritis lesion in 69% of the cases. MRI evaluation found a re-tear of the repair in 42% of the cases: 30% when only the supraspinatus tendon was initially involved, and 63% when two or more tendons were repaired. Tear size and quality of the repair were the most important prognosis factors for re-tear of the repair. No correlation was found between the occurrence of a new tear and the clinical outcome.

Conlcusion

Surgical repair of chronic rotator cuff tendon tear can produce consistent and lasting pain relief and improvement in range of motion. Re-tear of the repair was not correlated with degradation of clinical results. Best results were obtained for isolated supraspinatus tear with a complete surgical repair.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Département d’Orthopédie et Traumatologie – Urgences Mains, Hôpital Pierre-Paul RIQUET, Hôpital Universitaire de Toulouse, Place du Dr Baylac, 31059, Toulouse Cedex, France

    Fanny Elia, Vadim Azoulay, Julie Lebon, Amélie Faraud, Nicolas Bonnevialle & Pierre Mansat

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  1. Fanny Elia
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  2. Vadim Azoulay
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  3. Julie Lebon
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  4. Amélie Faraud
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  5. Nicolas Bonnevialle
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  6. Pierre Mansat
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Correspondence to Pierre Mansat.

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No benefits in any form have been received or will be received from a commercial party related directly or indirectly to the subject of this article.

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No funding has been received related to this study.

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Elia, F., Azoulay, V., Lebon, J. et al. Clinical and anatomic results of surgical repair of chronic rotator cuff tears at ten-year minimum follow-up. International Orthopaedics (SICOT) 41, 1219–1226 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00264-017-3456-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00264-017-3456-8

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