Abstract
BackgroundAlthough rotator cuff syndrome is common and extensively studied from the perspective of producing healed tendons, influence of gender on patient-reported outcomes is less well examined. As activity and role demands may vary widely between men and women, clarity on whether gender is an important factor in outcome would enhance patient education and expectation management. Our purpose was to determine if differences exist in patient-reported outcomes between men and women undergoing rotator cuff surgery.MethodsOne hundred forty-eight participants (76 W:72 M) aged 35–75 undergoing surgery for unilateral symptomatic rotator cuff syndrome were followed for 12 months after surgery. Demographics, surgical data, and the Western Ontario Rotator Cuff (WORC) scores were collected. Surgery was performed by two fellowship-trained shoulder surgeons at a single site.ResultsThere were no gender-based differences in overall WORC score or subcategory scores by 12 months post-op. Pain scores were similar at all time points in men and women. Women were more likely to have dominant-arm surgery and had smaller rotator cuff tears than men. Complication rates were low, and satisfaction was high in both groups.ConclusionPatient gender doesn’t appear to exert an important effect on patient-reported rotator cuff outcomes in this prospective cohort. Further work examining other covariates as well as the qualitative experience of going through rotator cuff repair should provide greater insight into factors that influence patient-reported outcomes.
Highlights
180,0001 Canadian adults will develop symptomatic rotator cuff syndrome each year, experiencing the pain and disability that results [1]
Women were much more likely to be presenting for surgery on their dominant arm compared to men
There were no differences between those who did not complete the 12 months of follow-up and those who did with respect to age (p = 0.57), baseline Western Ontario Rotator Cuff (WORC) score (p = 0.72), secondary gain concerns (p = 0.65), tear size (p = 0.35), tear pattern (p = 0.48), smoking status (p = 0.22), gender (p = 0.46), dominant arm operated (p = 1.0), diabetes mellitus (p = 0.32), presence of a mood disorder (p = 0.66), or occupation type (p = 0.78)
Summary
180,0001 Canadian adults will develop symptomatic rotator cuff syndrome (a symptomatic rotator cuff tear, with or without accompanying long biceps tendon or acromioclavicular pathology) each year, experiencing the pain and disability that results [1]. The patient population facing symptomatic rotator cuff repairs is diverse: from roughly 30–80 years old, men and women, office workers and labourers, physically active and sedentary [3]. Much effort has focused on biological and technical factors to improve the rates of “successful” surgery. It is becoming increasingly clear, that addressing structural elements alone does not always produce the expected treatment outcomes from a patient perspective [4]. Rotator cuff syndrome is common and extensively studied from the perspective of producing healed tendons, influence of gender on patient-reported outcomes is less well examined. As activity and role demands may vary widely between men and women, clarity on whether gender is an important factor in outcome would enhance patient education and expectation management. Our purpose was to determine if differences exist in patient-reported outcomes between men and women undergoing rotator cuff surgery
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