Evaluation of the results of arthroscopic repair of rotator cuff tears: A prospective study

arthroscopic repair of rotator cuff tears in patients and to evaluate the influence of a variety of factors on the outcome of rotator cuff repairs, including the age and sex of the patient, side affected, dominant shoulder and duration of symptoms. Method: 30 cases of Rotator Cuff tear between the age of 18 and 70 years were primarily treated with arthroscopic repair from February 2009 to June 2011. Data was collected by direct observations as per the proforma prepared accordingly. Patient was assessed for UCLA score at pre- operative and post-operative 3, 6, 12, 18 and 24 months. Assessment of the final outcome was done at 24 months. Inclusion criteria : Presence of tear in any of the rotator cuff tendons,Patient between 18 and 70 years of age, Cuff repair performed solely with the use of arthroscopic techniques. We excluded Patients having associated shoulder lesions like SLAP etc, revision rotator cuff repair patients, irreparable tears, patients with associated symptomatic acromioclavicular arthritis and Patients with cuff tear arthropathy. Pre-operative and post-operative UCLA scores were compared using paired t-test. One way ANOVA was also used to compare more than two variables. Results : There were 14 males(46.67% ) and 16 females(53.33%) with average age was 52.43(30- 68) years. 27(90%) were right hand dominant and 3(10%) were left hand dominant. There was involvement of right rotator cuff in 18(60%) and left in 12(40%). Average duration of symptoms was 8.4 months (3- 24 months). 22(73.33%) patients had symptoms for less than 1 year and 8(26.67%) had symptoms for more than 1 year. All patients were treated with arthroscopic debridement and repair with bone suture anchor. Subacromial decompression was done as and when required. Average pre- operative UCLA score was 14.60(5- 25) and post- operative was 30.83(28- 35). There was a 100% satisfaction in this study at the end of 24 months according to UCLA score with 25(83.33%) patients having good and 5(16.67%) having excellent scores. There were no complications in this study. Conclusion: Arthroscopic rotator cuff repair offered good results and enabled the same reconstruction as with open technique and avoided the latter's complications. Advantages of arthroscopic rotator cuff repair include, a small cosmetic scar, the ability to perform the procedure on an outpatient basis, reduced early postoperative pain, availability to diagnose any intraarticular pathology that can affect the end results and deltoid muscle preservation that allows earlier and easy