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The effect of glenohumeral osteoarthritis on the outcome of isolated operatively treated supraspinatus tears

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Journal of Orthopaedic Science

Abstract

Background

Rotator cuff tear is considered to be a common source of shoulder pain and dysfunction. Osteoarthritis of the glenohumeral joint (OAG) may coexist with rotator cuff tear, especially in elderly patients. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of associated OAG on the treatment outcome of rotator cuff repair.

Methods

A total of 85 consecutive shoulders with an arthroscopically repaired isolated full-thickness supraspinatus tendon tear in males were included in this study. The grade of OAG was estimated preoperatively from shoulder radiographs using the Kellgren–Lawrence (K–L) classification, and peroperatively using the Outerbridge classification. Supraspinatus tendon tear was re-inserted anatomically to the native footprint in all cases. The Constant score was used as an outcome measure and was measured preoperatively and 1 year after the operation. The effect of OAG on the Constant score was analyzed statistically.

Results

82 shoulders (96.5 %) were available for the 1-year follow-up. Preoperative OAG was detected in 22/82 patients (26.8 %). Any OAG above K–L grade 0 was associated with a lower Constant score preoperatively [49.9 (SD 17.6) vs. 60.1 (SD 16.7) (p = 0.0185)] and also at the 1-year follow-up [73.9 (SD 17.5) vs. 82.8 (SD 10.9) (p = 0.0074)]. 16/60 patients (26.7 %) with K–L grade 0 radiographs had peroperatively detected OAG. Furthermore, any peroperatively detected OAG was associated with a lower Constant score preoperatively [53.2 (SD 19.0) vs. 60.9 (SD 15.2) (p = 0.0445)] and at the 1-year follow-up 76.8 [(SD 14.8) vs. 83.5 (SD 11.4) (p = 0.0223)].

Conclusion

OAG is a relatively common finding in operated supraspinatus tear patients. Pre- and peroperatively detected OAG during rotator cuff reconstruction is predictive for lower pre- and postoperative Constant scores.

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Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Turku University Hospital, P.O. Box 28, 20701, Turku, Finland

    Juha Kukkonen & Ville Äärimaa

  2. Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Kuopio University Hospital, P.O. Box 1777, 70211, Kuopio, Finland

    Antti Joukainen

  3. Orthopaedics, Hatanpää Hospital, P.O. Box 437, 33101, Tampere, Finland

    Janne Lehtinen

Authors
  1. Juha Kukkonen
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  2. Antti Joukainen
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  3. Janne Lehtinen
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  4. Ville Äärimaa
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Juha Kukkonen.

Additional information

Study design: level III, clinical retrospective comparative registry study.

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Kukkonen, J., Joukainen, A., Lehtinen, J. et al. The effect of glenohumeral osteoarthritis on the outcome of isolated operatively treated supraspinatus tears. J Orthop Sci 18, 405–409 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00776-013-0369-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00776-013-0369-2

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