Follow-up Results in Patient with the Progressive Fatty Degeneration of the Rotator Cuff / 대한정형외과학회잡지

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To evaluate the influence of progressive fatty degeneration of the rotator cuff (shown on MRI after rotator cuff repair) on the clinical outcome. MATERIALS AND METHODS: At one-year postoperatively, 25 patients with progressive fatty degeneration on MRI were evaluated using the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeon Standardized Assessment Form (ASES) score and the Constant score. RESULTS: Average ASES scores were 57.76+/-17.0 preoperatively, and had significantly increased to 84.8+/-11.9 at 1-year postoperatively, and to 92.7+/-7.7 at final follow up. Average Constant scores were 56.2+/-2 preoperatively, and had increased significantly to 78.2+/-11.7 at 1-year after surgery, and to 83.1+/-7.9 at final follow-up. All cases except 1 showed satisfactory results. Groups that showed re-tears, large tears or fatty degeneration on infraspinatus showed inferior results to those without these developments. CONCLUSION: On average 37.4 months of follow-up, clinical outcomes had improved in 96% of patients with progressive fatty degeneration of the rotator cuff. Therefore, progressive fatty degeneration on MRI at 1 year after rotator cuff repair does not influence final clinical results.