Structural factors affecting the outcome of rotator cuff repair

A retrospective review of 667 rotator cuff tears analyzed structural factors that might influence outcome. Tear size was not found to be an indicator of likely patient satisfaction, and concomitant rupture of the biceps tendon did not prejudice the outcome. In this first reported study of the influences of delamination disease and the surgical manner in which it is treated, it was found that at least when treated by interlaminar curettage before repair, cuff delamination did not appear to prejudice patient satisfaction. The study also found that tendon-to-tendon and tendon-to-bone repairs fared equally well, as judged by the criteria used here. (J Shoulder Elbow Surg 2002;11:212-8)