Repair of rotator cuff tears in tennis players

Abstract

Twenty-three tennis players with a symptomatic full- thickness rotator cuff tear underwent anterior acro mioplasty and rotator cuff repair. There were 8 small tears (<1 cm), 5 moderate tears (1 to 3 cm), 2 large tears (3 to 5 cm), and 8 massive tears (>5 cm). The dominant shoulder was involved in all patients and all were unable to play tennis before surgery. Eleven pa tients experienced a traumatic event that caused an injury, 6 while playing tennis, and 12 patients had a gradual onset of symptoms. At average followup of 42 months, 19 patients (83%) achieved a good result, were pain-free, and were able to play tennis at their pre- symptomatic competitive level. Three patients (13%), all with massive tears, had a satisfactory result and were able to play tennis, although at a lower competitive level secondary to weakness. One patient (4%), who also had a massive tear, had an unsatisfactory result and was unable to play tennis.