The risk of developing post-arthroscopic shoulder stiffness is increased by the presence of gastroesophageal disorders

Abstract

Aim The aim of this study was to document the incidence of post-arthroscopic shoulder stiffness (SS) and evaluate the role of certain or supposed risk factors in the development of this pathology. Background Postoperative SS is a complication of arthroscopic rotator cuff repair, which incidence has been reported variably in literature. Numerous risk factors have been described but gastroesophageal diseases have not yet been mentioned among them. Methods Two hundred and fourteen consecutive patients aged between 18 and 75 years with symptomatic degenerative posterosuperior rotator cuff tears that had failed conservative therapy and underwent arthroscopic rotator cuff repair were included. The incidence of post-operative SS and the presence of potential risk factors were documented prospectively. The presence of gastroesophageal reflux disease was specifically investigated with the GERDq questionnaire. Results The incidence of post-arthroscopic SS in the included patients was 7.9%. All but two patients were women, and sex was significantly associated to the development of the pathology (P = 0.0007). Both the presence of a subjective digestive discomfort (P = 0.0042) and the diagnosis gastroesophageal reflux disease (P = 0.0004) were found to be significantly associated with the development of post-arthroscopic SS. A present or past smoking habit were significantly associated with the absence of post-arthroscopic SS (P = 0.0443). Conclusions A significant association between the occurrence of post-arthroscopic SS and the presence of gastroesophageal diseases was identified. This finding deserves investigations with further studies. The incidence of post-arthroscopic SS encountered in this study falls among previously reported ranges, with females being significantly more affected than men.