Re-rupture or non-healing? Factors determining an unsuccessful repair

Abstract

The prevalence of rotator cuff tears increases with age, and many patients undergo surgical repair. In the past decade there has been a dramatic increase in the number of procedures. Despite new technology and a better understanding of rotator cuff biomechanics, structural failure after rotator cuff repair still occurs. Although some studies have reported good clinical outcomes despite failures, rotator cuff retears are commonly correlated with poorer clinical outcomes and decreased shoulder function. There have been numerous studies regarding prognostic factors for rotator cuff healing after surgical repair. Age, tear size, fatty degeneration and atrophy, muscle tendon retraction, workers compensation, compliance with rehabilitation, smoking, manual workers, type of repair, and the use of orthobiologics have been suggested as important factors for rotator cuff healing.