Effect of arthroscopic treatment of massive rotator cuff tears / 中国内镜杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the effect of arthroscopic treatment of massive rotator cuff tears. Methods 62 patients with massive rotator cuff tears underwent arthroscopic treatment from January 2010 to February 2016 were enrolled in the study and divided into elder group (≥ 65 years old, n = 23) and control group (< 65 years old, n = 39) according to age. Scores of American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons scale (ASES), University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) and Constant-Murley were compared before surgery and at 12 months after surgery between the two groups. Results The age in elder group was significantly higher than that in control group (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in baseline data including gender, disease duration, etiology and history of shoulder trauma between the two groups (P > 0.05). No perioperative complication occurred in all cases and all surgery were completed safely and successfully. The scores of ASES, UCLA and Constant-Murley at 12 months after surgery in the two groups were all significantly higher than that before surgery (P > 0.05). There were no significant differences in the scores of ASES, UCLA and Constant-Murley before surgery and at 12 months after surgery between the two groups (P > 0.05). Conclusions Arthroscopic minimally invasive surgery could effectively improve shoulder function in patients with massive rotator cuff tears, and it could also achieve good results in elderly patients and is worthy of clinical application.