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Review
. 2020 Apr;102(4):248-255.
doi: 10.1308/rcsann.2019.0173. Epub 2020 Jan 3.

Degenerative rotator cuff tear, repair or not repair? A review of current evidence

A A Narvani  1   2 , M A Imam  1   3 , A Godenèche  4 , E Calvo  5 , S Corbett  2   6 , A L Wallace  2 , E Itoi  7
Affiliations
Review

Degenerative rotator cuff tear, repair or not repair? A review of current evidence

A A Narvani et al. Ann R Coll Surg Engl. 2020 Apr.

Abstract

Introduction: We review the literature and highlight the important factors to consider when counselling patients with non-traumatic rotator cuff tears on which route to take. Factors include the clinical outcomes of surgical and non-surgical routes, tendon healing rates with surgery (radiological outcome) and natural history of the tears if treated non-operatively.

Methods: A PRISMA-compliant search was carried out, including the online databases PubMed and Embase™ from 1960 to the end of June 2018.

Findings: A total of 49 of the 743 (579 PubMed and 164 Embase™) results yielded by the preliminary search were included in the review. There is no doubt that the non-surgical route with an appropriate physiotherapy programme has a role in the management of degenerative rotator cuff tears. This is especially the case in patients with significant risk factors for surgery, those who do not wish to go through a surgical treatment and those with small, partial and irreparable tears. However, rotator cuff repair has a good clinical outcome with significant improvements in pain, range of motion, strength, quality of life and sleep patterns.

Keywords: Degenerative; Impingement; Repair; Rotator cuff tears; Shoulder.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Footprint of the thinking thought in managing degenerative rotator cuff tears.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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