[Operative and follow-up treatment of rotator cuff tears--the current situation].

AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate the current situation of rotator cuff repair and follow-up treatment in German hospitals.

METHODS

An evaluated survey, enquiring about the year 2006, was sent to all 777 German orthopaedic and/or trauma surgery departments. The hospitals were chosen using the official index of hospitals from the German Federal Statistical Office.

RESULTS

44 % of the surveys were sent back, whereby 40 % were of use. Within the 309 departments, 26 % of the total number of 59,957 shoulder operations were rotator cuff repairs. Mini-open was the operation method in 49 %, open in 29 % and arthroscopic in 22 % of cases. Regarding the operational methods, there were differences between the departments and level of care. The arthroscopic technique was used sometimes in 48 % of the departments, whereas 52 % never used it. Specialised shoulder departments employed the total arthroscopic procedure more often. A set follow-up treatment occurred in 79 % of departments.

CONCLUSION

Rotator cuff repair is mainly carried out using the mini-open method, which is nowadays regarded as gold standard.