Abstract
Purpose There is still conflicting evidence to support postoperative rehabilitation protocols
using immobilization following rotator cuff repair over early motion. The objective
of the study was to evaluate the evolution of pain, shoulder function, and patients'
perception of their health status up to 1 year after cuff rotator repair and a standard
postoperative rehabilitation protocol consisting of 4 weeks of immobilization followed
by a 2-week assisted controlled rehabilitation.
Methods Descriptive, longitudinal, uncontrolled case-series study was performed on 49 patients
who underwent arthroscopic rotator cuff repair following traumatic or degenerative
lesions. VAS scale for pain, Constant–Murley score for function, and SF-12 score for
quality of life were used as outcome measures and were administered before the rehabilitation
treatment, at the end of the 2-week rehabilitation, 3 months, and 1 year after surgery.
Results VAS pain score decreased significantly along the follow-up reaching almost a nil
value after 1 year (0.2). Function as measured by Constant–Murley score had a significant
improvement during follow-up, reaching a mean value of 84.6. The short form (SF)-12
score increased over time reaching 46.3 for the physical and 43.8 for the psychological
dimension, respectively, at 1 year.
Conclusion The present study confirmed an excellent outcome at 1 year after rotator cuff repair
using a traditional 4-week immobilization followed by a 2-week rehabilitation protocol
without evidence of tendon un-healing or re-tearing.
Level of Evidence This is a level IV, therapeutic case series.
Keywords
pain - rotator cuff - repair - arthroscopy - rehabilitation
