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. 2015 Jun 16;50(3):318-23.
doi: 10.1016/j.rboe.2015.06.004. eCollection 2015 May-Jun.

Rotator cuff injury in patients over the age of 65 years: evaluation of function, integrity and strength

Marco Antonio de Castro Veado  1 , Eric Fontes Prata  2 , David Correia Gomes  2
Affiliations

Rotator cuff injury in patients over the age of 65 years: evaluation of function, integrity and strength

Marco Antonio de Castro Veado et al. Rev Bras Ortop. .

Abstract
in English, Portuguese

Objective: To retrospectively evaluate the results from patients who underwent arthroscopic treatment for rotator cuff injuries, among those aged over 65 years, observing integrity, function and strength.

Methods: Thirty-five shoulders were operated between July 2005 and July 2010, and 28 shoulders were re-evaluated regarding elevation strength and external rotation, using a digital dynamometer. Integrity was evaluated by means of ultrasound examinations. The patients, whose mean age was 70.54 years (ranging from 65 to 82 years), were followed up for a minimum of 26 months and mean of 51.18 months (ranging from 26 to 82 months). To evaluate function, the UCLA score, the Simple Shoulder Test (SST) and a visual analog scale (VAS) for pain were used.

Results: In analyzing the ultrasound scans, it was observed that the integrity of the rotator cuff was maintained in 75% of the cases at the end of the follow-up, along with the improvement in the UCLA score, which evolved from 17.46 to 32.39, i.e. excellent and good results in 89.28%. The mean SST and VAS indices were 9.86 and 1.5 respectively.

Conclusion: Arthroscopic surgery to repair rotator cuff injuries in patients over the age of 65 years leads to improved function and pain relief, with maintenance of the integrity of the repair. The data on muscle strength were inconclusive.

Objetivo: Avaliar retrospectivamente os resultados dos pacientes submetidos ao tratamento artroscópico das lesões do manguito rotador em pacientes acima de 65 anos e observar a integridade, a função e a força.

Métodos: Foram operados 35 ombros entre julho de 2005 e julho de 2010 e 28 ombros reavaliados quanto à força de elevação e de rotação externa com um dinamômetro digital. A integridade foi avaliada por exame de ultrassonografia. Os pacientes, com média de 70,54 anos (variação de 65 a 82), foram seguidos por no mínimo 26 meses (variação de 26 a 82), com seguimento médio de 51,18 meses. Para a avaliação da função foi usado o escore da UCLA, o Simple Shoulder Test e a escala analógica visual da dor.

Resultados: Na análise da ultrassonografia observou-se a manutenção da integridade do manguito rotador em 75% dos casos no fim do seguimento, bem como a melhoria da pontuação no escore UCLA, que passou de 17,46 para 32,39; ou seja, 89,28% de excelentes e bons resultados. A média dos índices SST e EAV foi 9,86 e 1,5 respectivamente.

Conclusão: A cirurgia artroscópica para reparo da lesão do manguito rotador em pacientes maiores de 65 anos leva a uma melhoria da função e um alívio da dor, com manutenção da integridade do reparo. As informações sobre força muscular foram inconclusivas.

Keywords: Arthroscopy; Rotator cuff; Shoulder joint/surgery.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Measurement of elevation strength: patient standing up, with the upper limb abducted and internally rotated.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Measurement of external rotation strength: patient standing up, with the elbow against the body.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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