Abstract
Aim: To determine the long-term outcome of surgery for rotator cuff disorders.
Methods: Ninety-two patients were followed up, after a minimum of nine years following rotator cuff surgery, including arthroscopic and open subacromial decompression, and repair of a rotator cuff tear. The results were assessed with the UCLA rating score. These results were compared with another group with a two-year follow-up.
Results: The follow-up periods for the 92 patients were from nine to 14 years. There were 58% of patients in the good or excellent group, 23% in the fair, and 19% in the poor. The results in cases with rotator cuff repairs were similar to those with only subacromial decompressions. The long-term results were a little worse than the results in the two-year follow-up group.
Conclusions: In some cases there was a gradual deterioration over time in shoulder symptoms following rotator cuff surgery. After 10 years, 19% had a poor result.
The abstracts were prepared by Professor A. J. Thurston. Correspondence should be addressed to him at the Department of Surgery, Wellington School of Medicine, PO Box 7343, Wellington South, New Zealand
