From 1980, we have operated on rotator cuff tear patients with the same operative method namely, tendon to bone suture, lateral acromioplasty and coraco-acromial ligament resection. 16 out of 36 patients with a post operative period of more than 10 years were evaluated according to their JOA score. The mean age of the subjects was 65 years at follow-up and they were followed up for an average period of 12 years. They were evaluated before surgery and at an average period of five years after surgery. However, they were evaluated according to Wolfgang's criteria before surgery because of the absence of the JOA score at that time. As Wolfgang's criteria (x) and JOA (y) score correlate (y=3.1x+37.3, r=0.92), the preoperative score were converted into JOA score.
The average JOA scores were 66.3, 94.3 and 94.7 before surgery, at five years and at 12 years after surgery, respectively. There was no significant differernce between follow-up at five and 12 years after surgery concerning the total and each item of the JOA score.
From our study, it can be concluded that five years of follow-up is enough for patients operated on for rotator cuff tear.
