Abstract

Aim: This study aimed to compare the clinical outcomes of arthroscopic rotator cuff repairs performed in patients with or wtihout concomitant glenohumeral joint lesions.
Materials and Methods: Patients with a confirmed diagnosis of rotator cuff tear and who have undergone arthroscopic repair was included to this retrospective comparative study. Patients were grouped according to the presence of accompanying glenohumeral joint pathology identified during arthroscopic surgery. Patients’ demographics, clinical data and operative data were recorded for all patients. Physical examination findings as well as clinical scores were recorded for all patients at first admission and at postoperative 6 months of follow-up examination.
Results: There were 61 patients in Group I (accompanying glenohumeral pathologies) and 32 patients in Group II (no glenohumeral pathology). The mean shoulder flexion of patients in Group II was significantly higher than that in Group I at both preoperative and postoperative 6
months of follow-up examinations (p=.015 and .001, respectively). The mean internal rotation of shoulder in Group II was also significantly higher than that in Group I at preoperative and postoperative 6 months of follow-up examinations (p=.029 and .038, respectively). The mean ASES score of patients in Group II was significantly higher preoperatively and at postoperative 6 months of follow-up than that in Group I (p=.002 and .020, respectively).
Conclusion: According to our results, among patients who have undergone rotator cuff repair, those with accompanying glenohumeral joint pathologies had significantly lower shoulder flexion, shoulder internal rotation, and ASES score than those without accompanying pathologies.

Key words: Shoulder arthroscopy; rotator cuff tear; clinical outcomes; biceps tendinopathy; glenohumeral arthritis, SLAP lesion