Massive Rotator Cuff Tear / 대한정형외과학회잡지

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To report our experience of massive rotator cuff tear and evaluate the final outcome and factors influencing the final results. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We have performed 25 repairs (24 patients) of the massive rotator cuff tear. The average age 58 years old, mean follow-up was 22 months. Acromioplasty alone was performed in 7 cases and acromioplasty with direct repair was performed in 18 cases. We statistically analyzed the results by Student's T-test. RESULTS: Postoperative pain and UCLA score improved 2.2, 32 from 7.4, 14 respectively. The gain of 32 degrees in forward flexion, 8 degrees in external rotation could be obtained. Six (24%) was excellent, sixteen (64%) was good and three (12%) was poor and eigthy-four percent of our series was satisfied. Preoperative range of motion (P=0.040) , the degree of degeneration and the magnitude of tendon retraction (P=0.013) influenced the final results, but age (P=0.232) , duration and severity of pain (P=0.370) did not. There was a significant difference between acromioplasty only and acromioplasty with direct repair even though this discrepancy is very small (P=0.046) . Retear was revealed in 8 cases (44%) among repaired rotator cuff. CONCLUSION: Acromioplasty by itself could get a pain relief and functional improvement and a patient satisfaction in the treatment of massive rotator cuff tear regardless a reparability, but a more favorable result could be expected when a torn rotator cuff was repaired if possible.