Outcomes After Revision Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND

Arthroscopic rotator cuff repair (ARCR) is one of the most commonly performed orthopaedic procedures; however, it is unclear how to manage patients with symptomatic retears.

PURPOSE: To perform a systematic review to evaluate the outcomes of revision ARCR in the literature.

STUDY

DESIGN

Systematic review; Level of evidence, 4.

METHODS

A systematic literature search based on PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines was performed utilizing the Embase, MEDLINE, and Cochrane Library databases. Eligible for inclusion were clinical studies reporting on revision rotator cuff repair. Clinical outcomes were recorded.

RESULTS

The 17 included studies were composed of 888 shoulders in 885 patients. The mean age of the 885 patients was 58.6 ± 9.1 years, with a mean follow-up of 28.1 ± 22.1 months. The mean visual analog scale score was 2.1 ± 1.8, the mean American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons score was 75.0 ± 18.3, and the mean Constant score was 67.4 ± 16.6. The overall rate of retears after revision was 25.3%, with an 8.0% reoperation rate including 2.7% undergoing reverse shoulder arthroplasty and 2.0% undergoing subsequent rotator cuff repair. Finally, the complication rate was 8.6%.

CONCLUSION

Revision ARCR improved patient-reported outcomes, with 92% of patients free from reoperations at a mean follow-up of 2 years. Overall, 78.4% of patients were satisfied at final follow-up; however, the rate of retears was found to be higher than after primary ARCR.