The association between self-assessed improvement in mental health preceding rotator cuff repair and patient satisfaction: A retrospective cohort study

Abstract

Background The association between preoperative mental health trends and arthroscopic rotator cuff repair (RCR) outcomes and patient satisfaction has not been previously described. We investigated the association between a subjective change in preoperative mental health and patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) and achievement of patient satisfaction and substantial clinical benefit (SCB), defined as an improvement of American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons Standardized Shoulder Assessment score ≥ 17.5, following RCR. Methods Among patients undergoing RCR, various PROMs were collected preoperatively and at follow-up intervals up to 2 years postoperatively. Patient satisfaction and achievement of SCB were analyzed relative to subjective reports of better, worse, or unchanged mental health in the year preceding RCR and preoperative PROMs. Results Eighty-eight patients (47 male and 41 female) with a median age of 60.0 years (interquartile range (IQR), 10.0) were included in this study. All patients (n = 13) who reported improved mental health status preceding RCR had significantly better satisfaction ( P = 0.03) and SCB ( P ≤ 0.05) at 2 years postoperatively compared to patients who reported worse or unchanged mental status. Discussion Subjective improvement in mental health status preceding arthroscopic RCR was associated with patient satisfaction and achievement of SCB at 2 years postoperatively.