MUSCULOSKELETAL SURGERY

, Volume 96, Issue 1, pp 9–16 | Cite as

Complications associated with arthroscopic rotator cuff repair: a literature review

  • P. Randelli
  • P. Spennacchio
  • V. Ragone
  • P. Arrigoni
  • A. Casella
  • P. Cabitza
Review
First Online:
Received:
Accepted:

Abstract

The aim of this literature review was to report complications associated with arthroscopic rotator cuff repair (RCR). A computerized search of articles published between 200 and 2009 was performed using MEDLINE and PubMed. We included clinical studies (Level 1–4): (a) investigating patients with rotator cuff tears, managed by a completely arthroscopic RCR technique; (b) reported data about complications. Data about arthroscopic-assisted techniques were excluded. Articles that meet criteria inclusion were analytically examined. Complications were classified into general complications and specific complications related to arthroscopic RCR. We found 414 complications in 2,890 patients; most of them were specific complications related to arthroscopic RCR. Re-rupture was the most frequently encountered complication: re-tear rate ranged between 11.4 and 94%. Stiffness and hardware-related complications were observed in 74 and 12 patients, respectively. Eleven less common complications were also reported: 5 neurovascular, 3 septic, 2 thromboembolic events, and 1 anesthesiological complication. This review stated that arthroscopic RCR is a low-risk surgical procedure. Anatomical failure of the repair is the most common complication encountered in the literature.

Keywords

Arthroscopy Rotator cuff repair Outcome assessment Complications 
This is a preview of subscription content, log in to check access.

Notes

Conflict of interest

None.

References

  1. 1.
    Butler DL, Juncosa-Melvin N, Boivin GP, Galloway MT, Shearn JT, Gooch C, Awad H (2008) Functional tissue engineering for tendon repair: a multidisciplinary strategy using mesenchymal stem cells, bioscaffolds, and mechanical stimulation. J Orthop Res 26(1):1–9PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  2. 2.
    Romeo AA, Mazzocca A, Hang DW, Shott S, Bach BR Jr (2004) Shoulder scoring scales for the evaluation of rotator cuff repair. Clin Orthop Relat Res (427):107–114Google Scholar
  3. 3.
    Galatz LM, Griggs S, Cameron BD, Iannotti JP (2001) Prospective longitudinal analysis of postoperative shoulder function: a ten-year follow-up study of full-thickness rotator cuff tears. J Bone Jt Surg Am 83-A(7):1052–1056Google Scholar
  4. 4.
    Iannotti JP (1994) Full-thickness rotator cuff tears: factors affecting surgical outcome. J Am Acad Orthop Surg 2(2):87–95PubMedGoogle Scholar
  5. 5.
    Gartsman GM, Khan M, Hammerman SM (1998) Arthroscopic repair of full-thickness tears of the rotator cuff. J Bone Jt Surg Am 80(6):832–840Google Scholar
  6. 6.
    Gartsman GM, Brinker MR, Khan M (1998) Early effectiveness of arthroscopic repair for full-thickness tears of the rotator cuff: an outcome analysis. J Bone Jt Surg Am 80(1):33–40CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  7. 7.
    Hersch JC, Sgaglione NA (2000) Arthroscopically assisted mini-open rotator cuff repairs. Functional outcome at 2- to 7-year follow-up. Am J Sports Med 28(3):301–311PubMedGoogle Scholar
  8. 8.
    Warner JJ, Tetreault P, Lehtinen J, Zurakowski D (2005) Arthroscopic versus mini-open rotator cuff repair: a cohort comparison study. Arthroscopy 21(3):328–332PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  9. 9.
    Wolf EM, Pennington WT, Agrawal V (2004) Arthroscopic rotator cuff repair: 4- to 10-year results. Arthroscopy 20(1):5–12PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  10. 10.
    Tauro JC (2004) Arthroscopic repair of large rotator cuff tears using the interval slide technique. Arthroscopy 20(1):13–21PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  11. 11.
    Bittar ES (2002) Arthroscopic management of massive rotator cuff tears. Arthroscopy 18(9 Suppl 2):104–106PubMedGoogle Scholar
  12. 12.
    Brislin KJ, Field LD, Savoie FH 3rd (2007) Complications after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. Arthroscopy 23(2):124–128PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  13. 13.
    Buess E, Steuber KU, Waibl B (2005) Open versus arthroscopic rotator cuff repair: a comparative view of 96 cases. Arthroscopy 21(5):597–604PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  14. 14.
    Clavert P, Warner JJ (2005) Panacryl synovitis: fact or fiction? Arthroscopy 21(2):200–203PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  15. 15.
    Cummins CA, Murrell GA (2003) Mode of failure for rotator cuff repair with suture anchors identified at revision surgery. J Should Elb Surg 12(2):128–133CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  16. 16.
    Huberty DP, Schoolfield JD, Brady PC, Vadala AP, Arrigoni P, Burkhart SS (2009) Incidence and treatment of postoperative stiffness following arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. Arthroscopy 25(8):880–890PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  17. 17.
    Murray TF Jr, Lajtai G, Mileski RM, Snyder SJ (2002) Arthroscopic repair of medium to large full-thickness rotator cuff tears: outcome at 2- to 6-year follow-up. J Should Elb Surg 11(1):19–24CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  18. 18.
    Wilson F, Hinov V, Adams G (2002) Arthroscopic repair of full-thickness tears of the rotator cuff: 2- to 14-year follow-up. Arthroscopy 18(2):136–144PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  19. 19.
    Youm T, Murray DH, Kubiak EN, Rokito AS, Zuckerman JD (2005) Arthroscopic versus mini-open rotator cuff repair: a comparison of clinical outcomes and patient satisfaction. J Should Elb Surg 14(5):455–459CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  20. 20.
    Sugaya H, Maeda K, Matsuki K, Moriishi J (2007) Repair integrity and functional outcome after arthroscopic double-row rotator cuff repair. A prospective outcome study. J Bone Jt Surg Am 89(5):953–960CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  21. 21.
    Lichtenberg S, Liem D, Magosch P, Habermeyer P (2006) Influence of tendon healing after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair on clinical outcome using single-row Mason-Allen suture technique: a prospective, MRI controlled study. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 14(11):1200–1206PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  22. 22.
    Lafosse L, Jost B, Reiland Y, Audebert S, Toussaint B, Gobezie R (2007) Structural integrity and clinical outcomes after arthroscopic repair of isolated subscapularis tears. J Bone Jt Surg Am 89(6):1184–1193CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  23. 23.
    Anderson K, Boothby M, Aschenbrener D, van Holsbeeck M (2006) Outcome and structural integrity after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair using 2 rows of fixation: minimum 2-year follow-up. Am J Sports Med 34(12):1899–1905PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  24. 24.
    Bishop J, Klepps S, Lo IK, Bird J, Gladstone JN, Flatow EL (2006) Cuff integrity after arthroscopic versus open rotator cuff repair: a prospective study. J Should Elb Surg 15(3):290–299CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  25. 25.
    Boileau P, Brassart N, Watkinson DJ, Carles M, Hatzidakis AM, Krishnan SG (2005) Arthroscopic repair of full-thickness tears of the supraspinatus: does the tendon really heal? J Bone Jt Surg Am 87(6):1229–1240CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  26. 26.
    Bond JL, Dopirak RM, Higgins J, Burns J, Snyder SJ (2008) Arthroscopic replacement of massive, irreparable rotator cuff tears using a GraftJacket allograft: technique and preliminary results. Arthroscopy 24(4):403–409 e401Google Scholar
  27. 27.
    Charousset C, Grimberg J, Duranthon LD, Bellaiche L, Petrover D, Kalra K (2008) The time for functional recovery after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair: correlation with tendon healing controlled by computed tomography arthrography. Arthroscopy 24(1):25–33PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  28. 28.
    Cole BJ, McCarty LP 3rd, Kang RW, Alford W, Lewis PB, Hayden JK (2007) Arthroscopic rotator cuff repair: prospective functional outcome and repair integrity at minimum 2-year follow-up. J Should Elb Surg 16(5):579–585CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  29. 29.
    DeFranco MJ, Bershadsky B, Ciccone J, Yum JK, Iannotti JP (2007) Functional outcome of arthroscopic rotator cuff repairs: a correlation of anatomic and clinical results. J Should Elb Surg 16(6):759–765CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  30. 30.
    Galatz LM, Ball CM, Teefey SA, Middleton WD, Yamaguchi K (2004) The outcome and repair integrity of completely arthroscopically repaired large and massive rotator cuff tears. J Bone Jt Surg Am 86-A(2):219–224Google Scholar
  31. 31.
    Kamath G, Galatz LM, Keener JD, Teefey S, Middleton W, Yamaguchi K (2009) Tendon integrity and functional outcome after arthroscopic repair of high-grade partial-thickness supraspinatus tears. J Bone Jt Surg Am 91(5):1055–1062CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  32. 32.
    Lafosse L, Brozska R, Toussaint B, Gobezie R (2007) The outcome and structural integrity of arthroscopic rotator cuff repair with use of the double-row suture anchor technique. J Bone Jt Surg Am 89(7):1533–1541CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  33. 33.
    Levy O, Venkateswaran B, Even T, Ravenscroft M, Copeland S (2008) Mid-term clinical and sonographic outcome of arthroscopic repair of the rotator cuff. J Bone Jt Surg Br 90(10):1341–1347CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  34. 34.
    Oh JH, Kim SH, Ji HM, Jo KH, Bin SW, Gong HS (2009) Prognostic factors affecting anatomic outcome of rotator cuff repair and correlation with functional outcome. Arthroscopy 25(1):30–39PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  35. 35.
    Sugaya H, Maeda K, Matsuki K, Moriishi J (2005) Functional and structural outcome after arthroscopic full-thickness rotator cuff repair: single-row versus dual-row fixation. Arthroscopy 21(11):1307–1316PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  36. 36.
    Verma NN, Dunn W, Adler RS, Cordasco FA, Allen A, MacGillivray J, Craig E, Warren RF, Altchek DW (2006) All-arthroscopic versus mini-open rotator cuff repair: a retrospective review with minimum 2-year follow-up. Arthroscopy 22(6):587–594PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  37. 37.
    Yoo JC, Ahn JH, Koh KH, Lim KS (2009) Rotator cuff integrity after arthroscopic repair for large tears with less-than-optimal footprint coverage. Arthroscopy 25(10):1093–1100PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  38. 38.
    Park JY, Chung KT, Yoo MJ (2004) A serial comparison of arthroscopic repairs for partial- and full-thickness rotator cuff tears. Arthroscopy 20(7):705–711PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  39. 39.
    Severud EL, Ruotolo C, Abbott DD, Nottage WM (2003) All-arthroscopic versus mini-open rotator cuff repair: A long-term retrospective outcome comparison. Arthroscopy 19(3):234–238PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  40. 40.
    Kelly JD 2nd (2005) Disintegration of an absorbable rotator cuff anchor six weeks after implantation. Arthroscopy 21(4):495–497PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  41. 41.
    Barber FA (2007) Biodegradable shoulder anchors have unique modes of failure. Arthroscopy 23(3):316–320PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  42. 42.
    Burns JP, Snyder SJ (2008) Arthroscopic rotator cuff repair in patients younger than fifty years of age. J Should Elb Surg 17(1):90–96CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  43. 43.
    Henn RF 3rd, Kang L, Tashjian RZ, Green A (2008) Patients with workers’ compensation claims have worse outcomes after rotator cuff repair. J Bone Jt Surg Am 90(10):2105–2113CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  44. 44.
    Liem D, Bartl C, Lichtenberg S, Magosch P, Habermeyer P (2007) Clinical outcome and tendon integrity of arthroscopic versus mini-open supraspinatus tendon repair: a magnetic resonance imaging-controlled matched-pair analysis. Arthroscopy 23(5):514–521PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  45. 45.
    Tauro JC (2006) Stiffness and rotator cuff tears: incidence, arthroscopic findings, and treatment results. Arthroscopy 22(6):581–586PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  46. 46.
    McBirnie JM, Miniaci A, Miniaci SL (2005) Arthroscopic repair of full-thickness rotator cuff tears using bioabsorbable tacks. Arthroscopy 21(12):1421–1427PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  47. 47.
    Barber FA, Herbert MA, Click JN (1997) Internal fixation strength of suture anchors–update 1997. Arthroscopy 13(3):355–362PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  48. 48.
    Cortes ZE, Hammerman SM, Gartsman GM (2007) Pulmonary embolism after shoulder arthroscopy: could patient positioning and traction make a difference? J Should Elb Surg 16(2):e16–e17CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  49. 49.
    Krishnan SG, Harkins DC, Schiffern SC, Pennington SD, Burkhead WZ (2008) Arthroscopic repair of full-thickness tears of the rotator cuff in patients younger than 40 years. Arthroscopy 24(3):324–328PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  50. 50.
    Bryant L, Shnier R, Bryant C, Murrell GA (2002) A comparison of clinical estimation, ultrasonography, magnetic resonance imaging, and arthroscopy in determining the size of rotator cuff tears. J Should Elb Surg 11(3):219–224CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  51. 51.
    Teefey SA, Rubin DA, Middleton WD, Hildebolt CF, Leibold RA, Yamaguchi K (2004) Detection and quantification of rotator cuff tears. Comparison of ultrasonographic, magnetic resonance imaging, and arthroscopic findings in seventy-one consecutive cases. J Bone Jt Surg Am 86-A(4):708–716Google Scholar
  52. 52.
    Barber FA, Herbert MA, Coons DA, Boothby MH (2006) Sutures and suture anchors–update 2006. Arthroscopy 22(10):1063 e1061–1069Google Scholar
  53. 53.
    Barber FA, Herbert MA, Richards DP (2003) Sutures, suture anchors: update 2003. Arthroscopy 19(9):985–990PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  54. 54.
    Shea KP, O’Keefe RM Jr, Fulkerson JP (1992) Comparison of initial pull-out strength of arthroscopic suture and staple Bankart repair techniques. Arthroscopy 8(2):179–182PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  55. 55.
    Dejong ES, DeBerardino TM, Brooks DE, Judson K (2004) In vivo comparison of a metal versus a biodegradable suture anchor. Arthroscopy 20(5):511–516PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  56. 56.
    Randelli P, Castagna A, Cabitza F, Cabitza P, Arrigoni P, Denti M (2010) Infectious and thromboembolic complications of arthroscopic shoulder surgery. J Should Elb Surg 19(1):97–101CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  57. 57.
    Burkhart SS, Danaceau SM, Pearce CE Jr (2001) Arthroscopic rotator cuff repair: Analysis of results by tear size and by repair technique-margin convergence versus direct tendon-to-bone repair. Arthroscopy 17(9):905–912PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar

Copyright information

© Springer-Verlag 2011

Authors and Affiliations

  • P. Randelli
    • 1
  • P. Spennacchio
    • 1
  • V. Ragone
    • 1
  • P. Arrigoni
    • 1
  • A. Casella
    • 1
  • P. Cabitza
    • 1
  1. 1.Dipartimento Di Scienze Medico-ChirurgicheUniversità Degli Studi Di MilanoMilanItaly

Personalised recommendations