Mini-Open Rotator Cuff Tear Repair: An Institutional Experience with a Midterm Follow-up

Abstract

Background. Rotator cuff tears have long been recognised as a cause of pain and disability. Over the past decades the treatment of rotator cuff tears has evolved from an open procedure to a mini-open procedure to an all-arthroscopic one. The indications and benefits of each of the procedures are still debated. The purpose of this study was to observe the results of “Mini-open repair rotator cuff tear”. Material and methods. This was a prospective study conducted in the postgraduate department of Ortho­paedics Government Medical College, Srinagar, from March 2013 to January 2018 with cases followed up for a minimum of 3 years. This study included 50 patients of either sex with non-massive full thickness tears of rotator cuff. Results. The mean UCLA score improved from 10.96 preoperatively to 30.68 at final follow-up. Overall, 88% of the patients achieved excellent or good results and 92% were satisfied. No significant difference was noted in functional outcomes between traumatic and degenerative tears. Size of tear seems to be a determining factor in the functional outcome. Stiffness as a complication occurred in two patients. Conclusion. 1. Mini-open rotator cuff tear repair eliminated sym­pto­matic full thickness rotator cuff tears with significant improvement in functional scores. 2. There were no major complications of the surgical procedure adop­ted or the fixation method used. 3. Mini-open rotator cuff repair remains a useful technique despite advan­ces in arthroscopy.