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. 2023 Jul 31;11(7):23259671231186408.
doi: 10.1177/23259671231186408. eCollection 2023 Jul.

Effect of Retear After Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair on Return to Work and Sports in Nonathletes: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Hyojune Kim  1 , Seok Hur  2 , In-Ho Jeon  2 , Kyoung Hwan Koh  2
Affiliations

Effect of Retear After Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair on Return to Work and Sports in Nonathletes: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Hyojune Kim et al. Orthop J Sports Med. .

Abstract

Background: The impact of retear after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair (ARCR) on clinical outcomes of patients remains controversial.

Purpose/hypothesis: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of retear on strength recovery, return to previous levels of work, and return to sports participation. It was hypothesized that retears (1) would not have a significant effect on patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) and (2) would significantly inhibit strength recovery and return to previous work and sports.

Study design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods: The authors collected data from patients who underwent ARCR between January 2015 and December 2019. All included patients had undergone magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and strength measurements 1 year postoperatively. Minimum 2-year postoperative PROMs (Constant score, pain visual analog scale, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons score, and Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation) and status on work and sports participation were collected, and PROM scores, strength recovery (percentage compared with the contralateral shoulder), return to work, and return to sports were compared between patients with versus without retear on 1-year postoperative MRI. Additionally, factors related to return to work and sports were identified through multivariable regression analysis.

Results: A total of 159 patients were included, of whom 19 (11.9%) had evidence of retear. Return-to-work and return-to-sports status was evaluated in 134 (84.3%) and 93 (58.5%) patients, respectively. There were no significant differences in PROM scores between patients with and without retears; however, patients with retears exhibited significantly worse supraspinatus strength recovery (73% vs 86%; P = .018) and external rotation strength recovery (78% vs 88%; P = .030) compared with patients with intact shoulders. There were no between-group differences in return to work or sports. Active workload was associated with unsuccessful return to work, whereas preoperative participation in shoulder sports was associated with successful return to work.

Conclusion: Patients with postoperative retears had significantly worse postoperative strength recovery than patients with intact shoulders. Active workload and preoperative shoulder sports participation were factors associated with ability to return to work.

Keywords: retear; return to sports; return to work; rotator cuff repair; strength.

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Conflict of interest statement

One or more of the authors has declared the following potential conflict of interest or source of funding: This study was supported by Eulji University in 2022. AOSSM checks author disclosures against the Open Payments Database (OPD). AOSSM has not conducted an independent investigation on the OPD and disclaims any liability or responsibility relating thereto.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Flowchart of patient selection for the study population and subgroup analysis. MRI, magnetic resonance imaging.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Preoperative (A) work and (B) sports status of all patients.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Graphical depiction of percentage of patients who returned to work and sports according to shoulder status.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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