Functional outcomes after arthroscopic assisted mini-open rotator cuff repair

Abstract

Introduction: Mini-open rotator cuff repair have the advantage of less deltoid morbidity, and demonstrated clinical outcomes that have been similar to those of open repairs. The present study was conducted to evaluate the functional outcome of patients who underwent arthroscopic assisted mini-open rotator cuff repair in our department. Methodology: A prospective study was conducted in Department of Orthopaedics, BPS Government Medical College and Hospital, in which patients, aged 30 to 70 years, who had an isolated tear in the rotator cuff tendon diagnosed by clinical examination & confirmed by MRI and had cuff repair performed solely with the use of arthroscopic assisted mini-open technique were included. Shoulder function assessments were made with University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) rating scale and Short Form Health Survey questionnaire (SF-36). Results: Mean age of the 26 patients included was 47.12 ± 10.72 years. Most common mode of injury in our patient population was domestic fall, reported by 84.6% of the patients. Road side accident was reported by three patients and sports injury by one. Partial thickness tear was observed in 57.7% of the patients and rest had a full thickness tear. We found the UCLA score reduced significantly from 12.42 ± 3.7 preoperatively to 29.46 ± 3.01 at the end of 6 months. SF36 scores showed a significant improvement in all the subscales as well. Conclusions: Arthroscopic mini-open rotator cuff repair is a successful procedure for improving patients’ quality of life, both physically and mentally, as measured using the SF-36.