EVALUATION OF TENDON HEALING AFTER ARTHROSCOPIC REPAIR OF ISOLATED SUPRASPINATUS TEARS.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the healing of supraspinatus tendon lesions after arthroscopic repair, with analysis of intra- and inter-observer agreement by two experienced evaluators for the same lesions.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A study was conducted with patients evaluated in the postoperative period of arthroscopic surgery to repair isolated supraspinatus tendon ruptures, with a minimum follow-up of one year. Tendon healing was evaluated using magnetic resonance imaging by two independent evaluators at two time points, with a seven-day interval between them. Categorical data were presented in absolute and relative frequencies, and mixed linear regression models were used to analyze intra- and inter-observer agreement, with a probability of rejecting the null hypothesis of 5%.

RESULTS

Twenty-three patients (26 shoulders) were evaluated, with a mean age of 61.5 years. At both evaluation times, most patients presented a healing grade between I and III in the Sugaya classification for both observers. The interobserver agreement was good, and the intraobserver agreement was excellent.

CONCLUSION

The mean tendon healing rate for arthroscopic repair of isolated supraspinatus ruptures was 81.7%. Intra-observer agreement ratings were considered excellent, while inter-observer agreement was good, demonstrating reliability in the evaluations performed.