Abstract
Objectives: To analyze the postoperative functional outcome of shoulder in patients with arthroscopically assisted repair of large to massive rotator cuff tears with or without acromioplasty and role of acromioplasty. Materials and Methods: From June 1996 to June 2002, twenty six patients with large to massive rotator cuff tears were undergone arthroscopically assisted repair. Mean follow up was over one year. Fourteen were male and twelve were female. Mean age was 51 years old(39-66). Mean duration was 9 months. Acromioplasty was done in 14 cases concomitantly. They were divided into two groups. Group I: arthroscopic cuff repair with acromioplasty(14 cases). Group II: arthroscopic cuff repair without acromioplasty(12 cases). Each shoulder was evaluated at preoperative and final follow-up with Visual Analogue Scale(VAS), University of Pennsylvania Patient self-assessment of pain, University of Pennsylvania Patient self-assessment of function, ASES standardized shoulder assessment form, Simple Shoulder Test, UCLA score and range of motion(ROM). We analyzed the differences between the two groups. Shoulder ROM and acromioplasty were determining factors. Statistics was tested by correlation analysis and repeated measure ANOVA test. Results: At the final follow up, functional outcome and pain were improved but they had no statistical significance between the two groups(p>0.05). Combined procedure, acromioplasty, didn't affect on VAS. UCLA score, University of Pennsylvania Patient self-assessment of pain, University of Pennsylvania Patient self-assessment of function, ASf:S standardized shoulder assessment form and Simple Shoulder Test(p>0.05). In group II, forward flexion and abduction were statistically improved at the final follow up than in group I(p<0.05). Conclusions: It appears that arthroscopic repair is satisfactory procedure in patients with large to massive cuff tears. Combined procedure, acromioplasty, doesn't affect on postoperative functional outcome of shoulder.
