Abstract
Background: Range of motion (ROM) deficit is a frequently associated symptom in symptomatic rotator cuff tears. The purpose of this study is to clarify characteristics of ROM deficits associated with full-thickness rotator cuff tears.
Methods: Subjects consisted of 155 patients with symptomatic unilateral full-thickness rotator cuff tears who underwent arthroscopic rotator cuff repair from 2007 to 2010. Passive ROM of forward flexion (FF), external rotation at side (ER), and internal rotation (IR) were measured preoperatively, and more than a 10 degree loss of FF and ER, and more than 2 spinal level losses in IR were defined as ROM deficit. In addition, 20 stiff shoulders that underwent arthroscopic pan-capsular release during the same time period were selected as a control.
Results: ROM deficits were seen in 138 shoulders (89.0%). Among them, unidirectional restriction was seen in 41 shoulders (26.5%) with FF, ER, and IR only deficit in 6 (3.9%), 12 (7.74%), and 23 (14,8%) shoulders, respectively. Multidirectional restriction was seen in 49 shoulders (31.6%). The average ROM in these shoulders was 129.0 degrees in FF, 27.8 degrees in ER, and L3-4 in IR. Although ROM in the stiff shoulders was severely restricted in all directions with less than 100 degrees in FF, 10 degrees in ER, and less than L5 in IR, none of the rotator cuff tear patients demonstrated severe ROM loss like the patients with stiff shoulders.
Conclusion: Characteristics of ROM deficit in patients with full-thickness rotator cuff tears were relatively mild to moderate restriction compared with that in frozen shoulders which requires pan-capsular release.
