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Arthroscopic rotator cuff repair results in similar postoperative functional outcomes in patients with only rotator cuff tears and those with concomitant cervical radiculopathy

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Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy Aims and scope

Abstract

Purpose

The aim of this study was to compare postoperative functional outcomes after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair in patients with only rotator cuff tears versus those with concomitant cervical radiculopathy.

Methods

A retrospective study of patients who underwent unilateral rotator cuff repair at a tertiary hospital between 2012 and 2016 was conducted. Patients included in the study were divided into two groups: (1) those with rotator cuff tears only (RC only) and (2) those with concomitant cervical radiculopathy (RC + radiculopathy). Cervical radiculopathy was treated non-surgically in these patients. Oxford Shoulder Score (OSS), Constant Shoulder Score (CSS), University of California at Los Angeles Shoulder Score (UCLASS) and Visual Analog Scale (VAS) pain score were measured for each patient preoperatively and at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months postoperatively.

Results

As compared to the RC-only group (n = 324), the RC + radiculopathy group (n = 33) had significantly poorer OSS (p = 0.001), CSS (p = 0.017) and UCLASS (p = 0.009) functional scores preoperatively. On follow-up, there were no significant differences in functional outcomes between the groups at 3, 6, 12 and 24 months postoperatively for OSS, CSS, UCLASS and VAS pain scores, with the exception of CSS which was higher in the RC-only group at 6 months (p = 0.007). The absolute change and number of patients that attained minimum clinically important difference (MCID) for OSS, CSS and UCLASS at 12- and 24-month follow-ups were also comparable between the groups.

Conclusion

Patients with rotator cuff tears and concomitant cervical radiculopathy achieve similar postoperative functional outcomes to those with only rotator cuff tears, after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair.

Level of evidence

III

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Abbreviations

RC:

Rotator cuff tears

OSS:

Oxford Shoulder Score

CSS:

Constant Shoulder Score

UCLASS:

University of California at Los Angeles Shoulder Score

VAS:

Visual Analog Scale

MCID:

Minimum clinically important difference

ROM:

Range of motion

EMG-NCS:

Electromyography and nerve conduction studies

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University Singapore, 1E Kent Ridge Road, NUHS Tower Block, Level 11, Singapore, 119228, Singapore

    Vikaesh Moorthy

  2. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore, Singapore

    Jerry Yongqiang Chen, Merrill Lee & Denny Tjiauw Tjoen Lie

Authors
  1. Vikaesh Moorthy
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  2. Jerry Yongqiang Chen
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  3. Merrill Lee
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  4. Denny Tjiauw Tjoen Lie
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Contributions

VM and ML helped in data collection, statistical analysis and drafting the manuscript. JYC and DTTL conceived the study, study design and carried out the study. All the authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Vikaesh Moorthy.

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Ethical approval

Approval from the institutional ethics committee (Institutional review board reference: CIRB 2019/2777) was obtained.

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Written consent from each patient was obtained.

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Moorthy, V., Chen, J.Y., Lee, M. et al. Arthroscopic rotator cuff repair results in similar postoperative functional outcomes in patients with only rotator cuff tears and those with concomitant cervical radiculopathy. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 29, 2564–2569 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-020-06394-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-020-06394-7

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