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Review
. 2017 Feb 28:11:95-107.
doi: 10.2174/1874325001711010095. eCollection 2017.

The Impact of Re-tear on the Clinical Outcome after Rotator Cuff Repair Using Open or Arthroscopic Techniques - A Systematic Review

Ilias Galanopoulos  1 , Aslanidis Ilias  1 , Konstantinos Karliaftis  1 , Dimitrios Papadopoulos  2 , Neil Ashwood  3
Affiliations
Review

The Impact of Re-tear on the Clinical Outcome after Rotator Cuff Repair Using Open or Arthroscopic Techniques - A Systematic Review

Ilias Galanopoulos et al. Open Orthop J. .

Abstract

Background: It is generally accepted that rotator cuff repair gives satisfactory results in the long term, although most studies have so far shown a fairly high rate of structural failure or re-tear. The purpose of this review study is to assess whether failure of the repaired cuff to heal could negatively affect the functional outcome.

Methods: This article includes an extensive Internet PubMed based research in the current English-language literature including level I to level V studies as well as systematic reviews.

Results: According to this extended study research, the results are mixed; certain reports show that patients with a healed rotator cuff repair have improved function and strength compared to those with structural failure, whereas other studies support the generally perceived concept that tendon re-tear does not lead to inferior clinical outcome.

Conclusion: Further high-level prospective studies with larger numbers of patients and longer follow up are needed to overcome the current debate over function between healed and failed rotator cuff repairs.

Keywords: Double-row repair; Failed rotator cuff repair; Single-row repair; Structural failure; Tendon healing.

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