Superior Capsule Reconstruction for Irreparable Rotator Cuff Tears Yields Good Clinical Outcomes for Patients With and Without Diabetes Mellitus

Abstract

PurposeTo compare the clinical outcomes after superior capsule reconstruction (SCR) for irreparable rotator cuff tears (RCTs) in patients with and without diabetes mellitus (DM). MethodPatients who underwent SCR using fascia lata autograft for irreparable RCTs between 2012 and 2020 with a minimum 2-year follow-up were divided into non-DM and DM groups. Propensity score matching was used to select controls matched for patients’ characteristics. Only patients with HbA1c <8% were eligible. The Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for shoulder pain, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) and Japanese Orthopaedic Association scores, and acromiohumeral distance were evaluated preoperatively and at 2 years postoperatively. Shoulder active range of motion (ROM) was evaluated preoperatively, at 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years postoperatively. Graft integrity and postoperative complications required additional surgery were evaluated. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test and Mann-Whitney U test were used to compare continuous variables. Pearson’s chi-squared test and Fisher’s exact test were used for categorical variables. The interaction between the postoperative period and ROM were analyzed by Friedman test and Wilcoxon rank sum test with Holm-Sidak post-hoc test. ResultsWe studied 154 patients (non-DM, 130; DM, 24) who underwent SCR. After matching, 21 patients were selected in each group. All clinical outcomes significantly improved at 2 years (all P<0.05) in both groups. We found no significant differences in clinical outcomes and rates of patients who achieved minimal clinically important differences of VAS and ASES scores between the groups (P=0.10-1.0). The rates of graft tear (both 9.5%) and complications (non-DM, 4.8%; DM, 0%) were not significantly different (both P=1.0). ConclusionSCR using fascia lata autograft for irreparable RCTs yields good clinical outcomes, including ROM, in patients with and without DM. No significant differences in postoperative outcomes were observed between the two groups. Level of EvidenceRetrospective cohort study, Level III.