Does having prior rotator cuff repair affect outcomes in reverse shoulder arthroplasty? A matched cohort study

Background: This study compares outcomes of reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RTSA) in patients with prior rotator cuff repair to matched control patients without prior surgery.

Patients and methods: All primary RTSAs with prior surgery were retrospectively identified from a prospective research database between 2000 and 2014. RTSA patients with prior open or arthroscopic rotator cuff repair and minimum 2-year follow-up, with age- and sex-matched controls, were identified. Active range of motion (ROM) and functional outcomes were evaluated. Preoperative, postoperative, and improvement in outcomes were compared between groups.

Results: One hundred fifty RTSA patients were included, with 75 patients in each group (42 female, 33 male). Mean age of the RTSA group with prior rotator cuff repair was 69.6years (average follow-up: 3.8years) compared to the RTSA group without prior surgery (control) aged 70.0years (average follow-up: 3.3years). Preoperatively and postoperatively, RTSA patients with prior cuff repair had slightly worse overhead ROM and outcome scores compared to controls but none were statistically different. The RTSA and control groups had similar and significant improvements in all postoperative ROM and outcome scores. Complications were similar between groups.

Discussion: RTSA patients with prior rotator cuff repair had similar ROM, functional outcome scores, and complications compared to a matched control group without prior surgery.

Level of evidence: III, treatment study.