Outcomes are favorable in Asian patients undergoing deltoid-on open rotator cuff repair without acromioplasty.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate if rotator cuff repair without acromioplasty would result in improvement in outcomes without the risks associated with acromioplasty in Asian patients. METHODS: 38 primary repairs of tears of the rotator cuff were performed through a deltoid-on approach. The Simple Shoulder Test (SST) and UCLA shoulder rating scale were measured preoperatively and at 2 years post-operatively. RESULTS: There was a significant improvement in the SST 2 years post-operatively (p < 0.001). UCLA scores for pain control and function (p < 0.001) also significantly improved 2 years post-operatively. CONCLUSION: Outcomes are favorable in Asians following deltoid-on open rotator cuff repair without acromioplasty. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.