Study on the arthroscopic repair of the rotator cuff tear

Abstract

Rotator cuff tear (RCT) is common shoulder pathology. The majority of the patients do not require surgical treatment, their evolution being favorable under conservative treatment. In other cases, the symptomatology does not improve without surgery. This can be open or less invasive, i.e. arthroscopic. Material and Methods: We evaluated 30 cases of rotator cuff (supraspinatus) tear, operated on arthroscopically between 2015 and 2017. All surgeries were done arthroscopically, by the same surgeon. The data were collected using the Constant score and the SST score, calculated preoperatively and postoperatively at 12 months. The average age was 52.6 for female patients and 53.2 for male patients. Results: they improved after treatment. The constant score increased from 44 to 84 and SST from 25% to 83.3%. All patients were treated closing the defect, using one or more anchors, with a simple or a double-row technique. Conclusions: The evolution was good with significant improvement in terms of pain and strength.

Keywords

• rotator cuff tear
• arthroscopy
• shoulder
• repair