Results of decompression and rotator cuff repair in patients 65 years old and older: 6- to 14-year follow-up.

At an average of 9.2 years after surgery, 47 patients with 51 shoulders who had undergone rotator cuff repair and subacromial decompression through an open Rockwood 2-stage acromioplasty-type approach were reviewed. All patients were 65 years or older at the time of their initial index procedure. Results were rated by patient satisfaction, the Constant's score, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) Evaluation, and Neer rating. Subjectively, the patients were highly satisfied, with a 94.1 overall satisfaction rate. Objectively, the average Constant's score was 82 when normalized to the opposite shoulder and age. According to the Neer rating scale, there were 20 (39%) excellent, 26 (51%) satisfactory, and 5 (10%) unsatisfactory results. When assessing the ASES Evaluation, the patients who had undergone an extensile deltotrapezial takedown had increased strength in their lateral deltoid as compared with a cohort of individuals who had undergone the VY exposure. There was no statistically significant difference in subjective or objective results. For the most part, open rotator cuff repair and subacromial decompression in older patients has a high level of success with respect to pain relief, independent living, and when desired, reasonable sports participation.