Is systematic long-term sonographic follow-up after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair useful in asymptomatic patients ?


Published online: Sep 30 2015

Emilie DESPORTES, Mathieu LEFERE, Pierre-Henri FLURIN, Pierre ABADIE, Lionel PESQUER, Benjamin DALLAUDIERE

Department of Radiology, University Hospitals Gasthuisberg, Leuven, Belgium

Abstract

Objective : To establish whether ultrasonographic (US) appearance is correlated to functional outcome in asymptomatic patients 12 months after rotator cuff repair.

Materials and methods : 26 asymptomatic patients at twelve months after arthroscopic cuff repair and 26 controls were retrospectively included. A clinical score (Constant’s Shoulder Score, CSS) was compared with a US score (the modified Sugaya Score, mSS). The minimal thickness of the anterior and posterior parts of the cuff was also measured.

Results : CSS improved significantly from preoperatively to postoperatively (mean increased from 41 to 82.6, p < .001). Correlation between the postoperative CSS and the minimal thickness of the cuff at its anterior and posterior part (p = 0.55 and p = 0.13) was not significant. There was also no significant correlation between the postoperative CSS and mSS (p = 0.34).

Conclusion : The sonographic appearance of the cuff repair is not correlated to the functional outcome at 12 months after arthroscopic surgery in asymptomatic patients.

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