Postoperative stiff shoulder after open rotator cuff repair: a 3- to 20-year follow-up study.
BACKGROUND AND AIMS
Stiffness after a rotator cuff tear is common. So is stiffness after an arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. In the literature, however, postoperative restriction of passive range of motion after open rotator cuff repair in shoulders with free passive range of motion at surgery has seldom been recognized. We hypothesize that this postoperative stiffness is more frequent than recognized and slows the primary postoperative healing after a rotator cuff reconstruction. We wondered how common is postoperative restriction of both active and passive range of motion after open rotator cuff repair in shoulders with free passive preoperative range of motion, how it recovers, and whether this condition influences short- and long-term results of surgery. We also explored factors predicting postoperative shoulder stiffness.


MATERIAL AND METHODS
We retrospectively identified 103 postoperative stiff shoulders among 416 consecutive open rotator cuff repairs, evaluating incidence and duration of stiffness, short-term clinical results and long-term range of motion, pain relief, shoulder strength, and functional results 3-20 (mean 8.7) years after surgery in 56 patients.


RESULTS
The incidence of postoperative shoulder stiffness was 20%. It delayed primary postoperative healing by 3-6 months and resolved during a mean 6.3 months postoperatively. External rotation resolved first, corresponding to that of the controls at 3 months; flexion and abduction took less than 1 year after surgery. The mean summarized range of motion (flexion + abduction + external rotation) increased as high as 93% of the controls' range of motion by 6 months and 100% by 1 year. Flexion, abduction, and internal rotation improved to the level of the contralateral shoulders as did pain, strength, and function. Age at surgery and condition of the biceps tendon were related to postoperative stiffness.


CONCLUSIONS
Postoperative stiff shoulder after open rotator cuff repair is a common complication resolving in 6-12 months with good long-term results.
['Vastamäki|H|H|', 'Vastamäki|M|M|']
D005260:Female D005500:Follow-Up Studies D006801:Humans D007592:Joint Diseases D008297:Male D008875:Middle Aged D019637:Orthopedic Procedures D011183:Postoperative Complications D016059:Range of Motion, Articular D012189:Retrospective Studies D017006:Rotator Cuff D000070636:Rotator Cuff Injuries D000070599:Shoulder Injuries D012785:Shoulder Joint D013708:Tendon Injuries D014945:Wound Healing
postoperative stiffness repair Rotator cuff tear factors frozen shoulder outcome