What are the Factors that Impact the Outcomes of Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair?

Background: The cuff is a complex structure with many factors affecting it. How much it is affected after repair is still being investigated.

Aim: The aim of this study was to analyze the functional results of individuals who received arthroscopic rotator cuff repair and assess the various factors that could impact these outcomes.

Methods: The study included 57 patients with a mean age of 58.8 years (range: 39-71) who underwent arthroscopic rotator cuff repair between 2013 and 2020, with a minimum of 6 months after the operation. Functional and clinical outcomes of the patients were evaluated using preoperative and postoperative scores (QDASH, ASES, and VAS). The study also analyzed how demographic factors, type and duration of the tear, comorbidities such as diabetes mellitus (DM) and hypertension (HT), and other pathologies may have affected the patients' scores.

Results: The effect of the operation on the scores in rotator cuff tears was highly significant (P < 0.05). Age, gender, tear size, fatty degeneration, anchor configuration, comorbidities, and additional procedures presented variable values on postoperative scores, but were not statistically significant. The effect of DM and HT on VAS scores was statistically significant (P < 0.05).

Conclusion: The results of rotator cuff repair appear to be influenced by several factors, including the sex of the patient, type and duration of tear, comorbidities, and surgical procedures used. Although these factors had an effect on the scores, they were not statistically significant.