Factors influencing the operative results of rotator cuff rupture.

This paper reports the conclusions from a clinical, radiological and mathematical analysis of 126 patients with rotator cuff ruptures who were treated by operation. There were 83 men and 43 women. The mean age was 53.4 years and the average follow-up period was 3.5 years. According to a new method of scoring, an acceptable result was achieved in 78% of cases (excellent in 29%, good in 23%, and fair in 26%). The chi-square and the two tailed t-tests indicated that the following preoperative or operative variables influenced the results significantly: time away from work before operation (p less than 0.001); operative delay (p less than 0.001); the number of operations on the rotator cuff (p less than 0.001); atrophy of the spinati muscles (p less than 0.001); degenerative changes of the greater tuberosity (p less than 0.001); the heaviness of the patient's work (p less than 0.005); the extent of the resection of the acromion (p less than 0.005) and indication for operation (pain, lack of motion or both) (p less than 0.025). According to regression and covariance analyses, these factors independently influenced the final outcome. The following variables did not significantly predict or influence the operative result: age of the patient; sex; conjoined lesions; the size of the rupture; the site of the rupture or detachment of the deltoid.