When Does the Quality of Life Improve after Rotator Cuff Repair? / 대한정형외과학회잡지

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate when the quality of life improve after rotator cuff repair. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighty-five consecutive cases with rotator cuff repair were studied. Patients completed the visual analogue scale (VAS), University of California Los Angeles scale (UCLA), American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeon's scale (ASES), Korean Shoulder scale (KSS), and the World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale abbreviated version (WHOQOL-BREF) preoperatively and at postoperative 3, 6, and 12 months. For evaluation of serial recovery pattern, section I (preoperatively-postoperative 3 months), section II (postoperative 3 months-postoperative 6 months), and section III (postoperative 6 months-postoperative 12 months) were divided. RESULTS: The mean WHOQOL-BREF score was significantly improved from 58.8 preoperatively to 66.4 at postoperative 12 months, with improvement of VAS, ULCA, ASES, and KSS scores. On serial recovery pattern, all measurements in section I, VAS, UCLA, and KSS scores in section II, and UCLA score in section III, were significantly improved. Female sex had a negative effect on all outcome measurements at postoperative 12 months. CONCLUSION: Our results showed improvement of quality of life as well as reduced pain and increased function at 3 months after rotator cuff repair. Further recovery of clinical outcomes showed gradual progress until postoperative 12 months.