The purpose of this study was to evaluate the outcome of rotator cuff tears repaired arthroscopically. Fifty patients with tears of rotator cuff who underwent arthroscopical rotator cuff repair since 2002. We evaluated 32 patients who were followed - up for more than 6 months. The mean follow-up period was 14.1 months (range 6-27 months). Patients were 14 males and 18 females. The average age at surgery was 64.9 years old (range 47-80years old). The average interval from onset of symptoms to the operation was 13.4months (range 296 months). The shoulder functions were assessed by means of the Japanese Orthopaedic Association shoulder scoring system (JOA score) before and after operation. The rotator cuff tears were repaired using suture anchors, margin convergence sutures, or both. The tear types were 4 partial tears (bursal side: 2, articular side: 2) and 28 complete tears (small: 9, medium: 10, large: 5, massive: 4). The average total score had improved from an average score of 56.3 points preoperatively to 92.7 points postoperatively. Each type after operation was 91.3(partial),93.1(small),95.3(medium),91.2(large) and 88.9(massive) points. There was a correlation between medium and massive type (p = 0.025). The average function score had improved from 10.0 points preoperatively to 18.5 points postoperatively, but there were correlations between massive and partial, small, medium types (p = 0.0157,0.0013,0.0486). The ratio of the partial tears and small tears had decreased over the 6months in the intervals between the onset and the operations. This study showed an almost satisfied clinical result, but the recovery of the function was difficult in a massive tear.
