Evaluation of the results of arthroscopic double row rotator cuff repair of isolated lesions

Abstract

Background: Rotator cuff tears are one of the most common soft tissue injuries. The incidence of full thickness tears of the rotators cuff ranges from 5% to 40% of all cuff tears, and increasing in frequency with age. The double row (DR) rotator cuff (RC) repair technique has been developed to optimize healing biology at RC tendon insertion, by increasing pressurized contact area and mean foot print pressure. Patients and Methods: From 2012 to 2014 forty patients with full thickness rotator cuff tear were selected to undergo arthroscopic DR RC repair. All patients were examined clinically and neurologically after history taking. Plain radiography and MRI were done for all patients. All the operations were done under general anesthesia and in beech chair position. Evaluation of the results of this study based on, the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) score and Range of motion (ROM). Secondary outcome measures included a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for pain. Results: At the end of two years follow up, the average UCLA score was improved from 12 preoperative to 29.8 postoperative. The average abduction was improved from 90 degrees preoperative to 145 degrees postoperative. Secondary outcome measures showed that average Visual Analogue Scale for pain was 2.8.And Visual Analogue Scale for patients satisfaction was 8.8 at the end of follow up. Conclusion: Arthroscopic double row rotator cuff repair is a procedure with good post-operative functional outcome and low complications rate based on a short term follow-up.