Clin Orthop Surg.  2015 Jun;7(2):234-240. 10.4055/cios.2015.7.2.234.

Gender Affects Early Postoperative Outcomes of Rotator Cuff Repair

• Cho CH
• Ye HU
• Jung JW
• Lee YK

• KMID: 2164550
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4055/cios.2015.7.2.234

Abstract

BACKGROUND
The literature does not provide consistent information on the impact of patients' gender on recovery after rotator cuff repair. The purpose of this study was to determine whether gender affects pain and functional recovery in the early postoperative period after rotator cuff repair.
METHODS
Eighty patients (40 men and 40 women) were prospectively enrolled. Pain intensity and functional recovery were evaluated, using visual analog scale (VAS) pain score and range of motion on each of the first 5 postoperative days, at 2 and 6 weeks and at 3, 6, and 12 months after surgery. Perioperative medication-related adverse effects and postoperative complications were also assessed.
RESULTS
The mean VAS pain score was significantly higher for women than men at 2 weeks after surgery (p = 0.035). For all other periods, there was no significant difference between men and women in VAS pain scores, although women had higher scores than men. Mean forward flexion in women was significantly lower than men at 6 weeks after surgery (p = 0.033) and the mean degree of external rotation in women was significantly lower than men at 6 weeks (p = 0.007) and at 3 months (p = 0.017) after surgery. There was no significant difference in medication-related adverse effects or postoperative complications.
CONCLUSIONS
Women had more pain and slower recovery of shoulder motion than men during the first 3 months after rotator cuff repair. These findings can serve as guidelines for pain management and rehabilitation after surgery and can help explain postoperative recovery patterns to patients with scheduled rotator cuff repair.

Keyword

Rotator cuff; Arthroscopic repair; Gender; Pain; Function

MeSH Terms

Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Postoperative Complications/epidemiology
Prospective Studies
Range of Motion, Articular
*Recovery of Function
Rotator Cuff/*surgery
Sex Factors
Time Factors
Treatment Outcome

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Pain intensity was measured using visual analog scale (VAS) pain scores on each of the first 5 postoperative days and then at 2 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months after surgery. The mean VAS pain score was significantly higher for women than for men at 2 weeks after surgery (*P = 0.035).

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  Fig. 2 Forward flexion was measured at 2 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months after surgery and was significantly lower for women than for men at 6 weeks (*P = 0.033).

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  Fig. 3 External rotation was measured at 2 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months after surgery. Mean postoperative external rotation was significantly lower for women than for men at 6 weeks (*P = 0.007) and at 3 months (*P = 0.017).

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