ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Several studies have reported functional recovery of the shoulder after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair (ARCR). Preoperative estimation of the time required for functional recovery is important for determining surgical indications and for planning timing of the surgery and an appropriate postoperative physical therapy. QUESTIONS/PURPOSES: We therefore asked: (1) how long it takes to obtain functional recovery after ARCR, and (2) what preoperative factors influence functional recovery time. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated 201 patients who had undergone ARCR. Using the Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) shoulder scoring system, we defined the functional recovery period as the time required to achieve a score greater than 80% in each component. We evaluated the functional recovery periods and assessed preoperative influencing factors such as age, gender, shoulder stiffness, morphologic features of rotator cuff tears, and rotator cuff tear size. RESULTS: Sixty-three patients (31%) took less than 3 months, 81 patients (40%) took between 3 and 6 months, and 57 patients (28%) took greater than 6 months to achieve a score greater than 80% in each JOA shoulder assessment component. Younger patients without shoulder stiffness and with smaller rotator cuff tears had shorter functional recovery periods. CONCLUSIONS: One hundred forty-four patients (72%) obtained functional recovery within 6 months after ARCR. Age, shoulder stiffness, and rotator cuff tear size influenced functional recovery time.
Subject(s)
Arthroscopy/methods , Range of Motion, Articular/physiology , Recovery of Function/physiology , Rotator Cuff/physiology , Shoulder Injuries , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Preoperative Period , Prognosis , Retrospective Studies , Rotator Cuff/surgery , Rotator Cuff Injuries , Shoulder Joint/physiopathology , Shoulder Joint/surgery , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
Unlike calcification, ossification is infrequent in the rotator cuff. We describe the clinical, radiographic, and pathologic findings in 64-year-old man with an ossified mass arising from a calcified portion of the rotator cuff tendon within the subacromial bursa. Mechanical stress and ischemic events are possible causes of cartilage formation followed by endochondral ossification, producing a mass causing outlet impingement.
