J Korean Orthop Assoc.  2021 Feb;56(1):61-67. 10.4055/jkoa.2021.56.1.61.

Risk Factor for Poor Clinical Outcome in Patients with Retear after Repair of the Rotator Cuff

• Lee HJ
• Joo IH
• Hur JM
• Oh HK
• Lee BG

• KMID: 2512897
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4055/jkoa.2021.56.1.61

Abstract

Purpose
To evaluate the prognostic factors affecting poor functional outcomes in patients with retear after rotator cuff repair.
Materials and Methods
From January 2013 to December 2018, among 631 patients who underwent arthroscopic repair of a rotator cuff tear, 42 patients, who could be followed-up for more than one year and showed a retear of the repaired cuff on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), were collected retrospectively. The preoperative demographic data, range of motion, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score, fatty degeneration, and tear progression on postoperative MRI, as well as other factors that could affect the clinical outcomes, were analyzed. Patients who scored <80 points on the ASES score were allocated to the poor function group. The risk factors for poor clinical outcomes were compared with the group with ASES scores of 80 or above.
Results
The postoperative functional results in the group with retear (n=42) after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair showed significant improvement. Univariate analysis revealed the preoperative visual analogue scale (VAS) score and tear progression to have associations with a poor shoulder function. In addition, subscapularis repair was found to be associated with a good shoulder function. The preoperative VAS score and tear progression except for subscapularis repair were independent factors associated with poor clinical outcomes according to multivariate logistic regression analysis.
Conclusion
In patients with retear after rotator cuff repair, the preoperative VAS and tear progression in postoperative MRI are factors predicting a poor functional outcome.

Keyword

arthroscopy; rotator cuff; tears; recurrence; risk